Israel said today that it “regretfully” cannot support a resolution to approve the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination until it is cleansed of all links, however remote, with last November’s resolution equating Zionism with racism.
Addressing the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Chaim Herzog, declared that while Israel supports “all moves to eliminate racism in the world,” the introduction of anti-Zionist references to the resolution on the UN-sponsored Decade to Combat Racism “obliges us, regretfully, to speak out against the program as long as that obscene act is in any way, however remotely, associated with this program.”
It is for this reason, Herzog said, “that we call upon this body to reject the program until it has been cleansed of an element inspired by racists and anti-Semites.”
Herzog charged that the Arabs, by forcing the UN to equate Zionism with racism, have discredited the world organization. He said that racism and racial discrimination do not exist in Israel. ”The State of Israel has, from its very inception, been guided by the principles of freedom, justice and peace,” he said.
ANSWERS CRITICISM-ABOUT VORSTER VISIT
Referring to repeated citations during the ECOSOC debate of increased collaboration between Israel and South Africa, and the emphasis put on the recent visit to Israel of South African Prime Minister John Vorster. Herzog said that he rejected all accusations “out of hand.”
Israel, he said, “is a sovereign country and has invariably refrained from commenting on whom other countries receive as visitors.” He asserted that Vorster’s visit began as a pilgrimage to the Holy Places on the occasion of Easter. “I can well imagine what would have been the reaction of my Arab colleagues if freedom of access to the Holy Places would have been denied to a pilgrim merely because of his political views,” Herzog said.
The Israeli envoy added, “If you are suggesting that the visit of Mr. Vorster and his ministers must be interpreted as an endorsement of his government’s policies, then this conclusion surely applies to all countries where such visits have taken place. You cannot be selective in this matter and if these are your views, then say so about all the countries where such visits have taken place,” Herzog said.
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