General Assembly Condemns Israel

Israel was condemned today by the General Assembly in one resolution for its “continuing and increasing collaboration with the racist regime of South Africa” and in a second resolution for its alleged nuclear collaboration with the Pretoria government. While the first resolution was exclusively devoted to Israel, the “nuclear collaboration” resolution cited also the United States, France and West Germany.

The vote on the first resolution was 82-18 with 28 abstentions. The United States and other members of the Western bloc voted against the resolution. The vote on the second resolution was 19-5 with 23 abstentions. Israel did not participate in the vote of either resolution.

Yehuda Blum, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, in explaining Israel’s position before the vote, declared: “Because Israel has been singled out as the only country in the world for specific condemnation on its own in a special resolution, my delegation will not participate in the voting on the issues before us: I request that this non-participation be duly reflected in the record: We take this stand to express our abhorrence at the cynical debasement of this entire discussion.”

Today’s resolutions were part of the Assembly’s vote on policies of apartheid of the South African government. Israel, which, recorded its opposition to apartheid numerous times before, voted today in favor of another resolution adopted by the Assembly which offered tribute to the memory of leaders and outstanding personalities who contributed to the struggles against apartheid and other forms of oppression.