Kirkpatrick: Goal of Israel’s Enemies at the UN is the Annihilation of the Jewish State

Jeane Kirkpatrick, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, said that the goal of Israel’s attackers at the United Nations is “the annihilation of Israel; her destruction. It is that simple.”

The envoy spoke at a luncheon honoring Howard Squadron for his service as chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The luncheon was attended by some 100 Jewish leaders; and Yehuda Blum, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN; Moshe Arens, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States; and Nophtalie Lavie, Israel’s Consul-General in New York. The chairman was Julius Berman, the present chairman of the Presidents Conference, who succeeded Squadron.

In her speech, Kirkpatrick described the attacks on Israel at the UN as “comprehensive, vicious and continuous.” She said that the attacks are not caused by this or that act by Israel but they are part of “a delegitimization” campaign against Israel. Through that, she said, Israel’s enemies want to achieve its liquidation. The envoy also charged that another object of the campaign against Israel at the UN is “to deny Israel the right of self-defense.”

Kirkpatrick added: “The United Nations is an incredibly dangerous place for everyone and especially for Israel. It is dangerous for all of us who believe in decency and law.”

Squadron, who received a lithograph by the Israeli artist, Yaacov Agam, said in his closing remarks that the Presidents Conference enjoys access to American leaders but exercises a rather limited influence. He said that the Presidents Conference does not have power in its hands. Squadron said that the function of the Conference; as he sees it as a former chairman, is to unify the Jewish community in America and achieve consensus “in order to exercise a meaningful influence.” Yehuda Hellman, executive director of the Presidents Conference, presented the lithograph to Squadron.