John Scali, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, declared today that the U.S. should lead “a vigorous response in instances where Israel’s rights are breached illegally.” Citing what he called “the rising threat to Israel’s rights in the General Assembly and in other United Nations forums.” Scali said that in his view the U.S. should take a “concrete response.” He did not elaborate on the form or detail of this response.
Since last year’s General Assembly, when South Africa was expelled from participating in the debates, there has been growing speculation here that the Arabs are planning to employ the same tactics against Israel.
Addressing a luncheon in his honor given by the Presidents Club of B’nai B’rith, Scali observed that it will not be easy to achieve peace in the Middle East. “It will be costly. It will be costly for Israel, costly for the Arabs and costly for the friends of all the parties,” he said. He added that all of the parties will have to make tremendous sacrifices, observing that until peace comes to the Mideast there is “terrifying threat of a new holocaust” for the whole world.
URGES RATIFICATION OF GENOCIDE CONVENTION
Scali told the 140 persons at the luncheon that Israel and her friends have encountered increasing hostility at the UN. But he said that the UN is only a mirror, “sometimes a bit distorted” of the larger world. Therefore, he added, “to punish the UN or to disregard it would not eliminate misunderstandings.”
Addressing himself to the issue of human rights, Scali said that the U.S. “must opt for human rights not merely speak for them.” He said that Americans should again urge that the Senate now consider joining the 77 other nations that have already ratified the conventions on genocide.
Scali, who is leaving his UN post, was given B’nai B’rith’s humanitarian award for his “distinguished service” as UN Ambassador. David Blumberg, B’nai B’rith international president, presented Scali with the award, a shofar.
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