Arab members of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities are attempting to convert the Sub-Commission’s discussion of an interim report on racial discrimination into an attack on Israel, linking Zionism and Nazism. The report was submitted by Dr. Hernan Santa Cruz of Chile, the special rapporteur.
One clash involved Syrian attempts to prevent Dr. M.L. Perlzweig of the World Jewish Congress from replying to a Syrian denial that former Nazis were employed by the Arab governments. Another arose out of an attack on Israel by Issa Nakleh, representative of the World Muslim Congress, who likened the racial policies of Israel to those of South Africa and asked Dr. Santa Cruz to include in his report a chapter on the Jews who had “usurped Palestine.”
Dr. Perlzweig, who was given the floor after the representatives of the United States. Canada and Britain had vigorously supported his right to speak, called on all governments to cooperate with the Federal Republic of Germany in its requests for extradition of known and wanted Nazi war criminals. He offered to submit a list of persons accused of grave crimes who, he said, had found asylum and immunity on every continent.
Dr. Perlzweig also urged that the report be amended to include the question of prohibition of incitement to racial hatred and discrimination, declaring that there should be a special study “of the limits beyond which the abuse of freedom undermined democracy.”
Dr. Isaac Lewin, representing the Agudas Israel World Organization, replied to the attacks on Israel by the Muslim Congress representative and stressed that Israel was a democracy in which all people enjoyed the same rights and privileges. He appealed to the Arab nations to “return to the historic tradition of peace and goodwill.” He said that Jews throughout the world wanted peace in the Middle East and said that when it came, it would be a blessing to Jews and Arabs alike. On the subject of the interim report. Dr. Lewin said that “a scientific method” must be found to stop a resurgence of Nasism and Fascism.
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