Israeli Ambassador Moshe Erel failed in his bid to prevent a PLO representative from addressing a session of the United Nations Water Conference at Mar Del Plata Friday. The Israeli envoy’s remarks were interrupted repeatedly by clapping from Arab and some African delegates and calls for order from the conference chairman, Luis Jauregui of Argentina.
Erel protested the presence of the PLO whose “declared purpose is to destroy a UN member state and its methods include murder.” He said it could contribute nothing to the “peaceful gathering” called to discuss the use and conservation of the world’s water resources. The Arabs and their allies who set up a din forced Erel to leave the podium.
He was followed by the PLO delegate, Salah Zawawi who denounced Zionism as “the most ruthless form of racial discrimination and human oppression” and accused Israel of “oppression, torture and inhuman treatment of those now languishing in prisons in occupied territories.” Zawawi received a standing ovation.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
