The leaders of three Jewish organizations met here yesterday with Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar and presented him with a petition signed by 800 renowned personalities from 27 countries asking his support in reversing the 1975 General Assembly resolution equating Zionism with racism.
Gerald Kraft, president of B’nai B’rith International, Bernice Tannenbaum, chairperson of the World Zionist Organization-American Section, and Israel Singer, executive director of the World Jewish Congress, presented the petition to de Cuellar. It called on the Secretary General “to take appropriate action to help remove from the records of the UN the stain of Resolution 3379” which equates Zionism with racism.
The three Jewish leaders were joined in their 20-minute meeting with de Cuellar by Uzi Narkiss chairperson of the WZO Information Department.
A spokesperson for B’nai B’rith International said after the meeting that the Secretary General disassociated himself from the General Assembly resolution. “He indicated that he understands our concerns, ” the spokesperson said.
The petition was signed by personalities in the fields of politics, arts, sciences, religion, trade unions and journalism. Among the signers were Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentinian writer; Isaiah Berlin, the philosopher and historian who lives in England; Australian Prime Minister Robert Hawke; former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing; West German Bundestag President H. Jennuger; Cardinal Jean Marie Lustiger of Paris; and Sweden’s Social Democratic Party Secretary General Bo Toresson.
During their meeting with de Cuellar, the Jewish leaders also presented him with an original work of art by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam, which was specially created for de Cuellar, on which the artist quoted from the UN Charter the provision that states, “to practice and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors.”
Sunday, November 10, marked the 10th anniversary of the Zionism-racism resolution.
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