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Koch Urges U.S. Delegation to UN to Resist UN One Sidedness on Jerusalem Issue, Exercise Veto if Nec

January 3, 1972
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A New York Congressman has urged the US delegation to the United Nation to resist the United Nations’ one sidedness” on the matter of Jerusalem, “If necessary, with the exercise of the veto.” Rep. Edward I. Koch (D.N.Y.) said in a letter to Ambassador George Bush, released today, that he was aware that Jordan plans to lodge a protest against the excavation and construction undertaken by Israel in the Old City of Jerusalem. “This is a malicious charge and another attempt, spurred by past Jordanian success in the United Nations, to have Israel censured and humiliated,” Koch wrote.

“The archaeological diggings, which I visited while in Jerusalem, are located by the Western Wall in the Jewish quarter. In no way do the excavations deface the Arab holy places,” he said. According to Koch. “The Jordanians must not be allowed to continue to harass the Israelis in the United Nations. Both the General Assembly and the Security Council have demonstrated a prejudice and hostility vis-a-vis Israel which portends that any disposition taken by the United Nations in the foreseeable future will not be predicated on fairness but rather on political expediency,” the Congressman wrote.

“I expect the United States to resist the United Nations’ one sidedness in this matter, not only with a strong presentation by yourself, but ultimately if necessary, with the exercise of the veto.” Koch said that if the Jerusalem matter comes before the Security Council, “I hope you will bring to the attention of the Security Council the desecration of religious Jewish sites executed by the Jordanians when they occupied the city.”

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