Secretary General Kurt Waldheim criticized Israel directly and by implication in his annual report released Friday but did not report his call for the creation of a Palestinian state which drew angry protests from Israelis and others when he made it in a speech to the Arab League last July.
Waldheim did renew his call for “self determination” for the Palestinian Arabs but stressed in his report that Middle East peace required that each state in the area recognize the right of all others to exist.
The Secretary General rapped Israel for interfering with United Nations peace-keeping forces in south Lebanon and for providing support for Maj. Sood Haddad’s Christian militia there. He apparently was alluding to Israel when he complained that the UN has been denounced for its role in the Middle East. He expressed concern that many UN resolutions have been ignored. This was seen as another rebuke to Israel, although other member states, notably the Soviet Union, Iran and Vietnam have also ignored UN resolutions during the past year.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
