Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV4800
2005-08-03 11:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

REVISED ISRAELI TEXT OF UNGA HOLOCAUST RESOLUTION

Tags:  PREL PHUM IS GOI EXTERNAL 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004800 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP AND NEA/IPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM IS GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: REVISED ISRAELI TEXT OF UNGA HOLOCAUST RESOLUTION


Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Adam Sterling for reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004800

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP AND NEA/IPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM IS GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: REVISED ISRAELI TEXT OF UNGA HOLOCAUST RESOLUTION


Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Adam Sterling for reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).


1. (C) MFA Director for UN Political Affairs Rony Adam
discussed the GOI's draft resolution on Holocaust remembrance
with poloff on August 2. Adam provided a copy of the revised
text (attached),which has minor changes to preliminary
paragraphs four (removing the word "unique" to describe World
War II) and eight (substituting the verb "honoring" for
"recalling"),as well as substantive changes to operational
paragraph six (adding the phrase "and to report thereof on
the implementation of this resolution to the General
Assembly" at the end of the point) and the removal of
operational paragraph seven in its entirety. Adam explained
that several European states had objected to an annual UNGA
agenda item on Holocaust remembrance, and Israel had offered
the changes to address this concern. Adam said the MFA's new
goal is to have the UNGA address Holocaust remembrance and
education every five years. He noted that the resolution
remains one of the GOI's top priorities at this year's UNGA.


2. (SBU) Begin text of draft Israeli resolution on Holocaust
remembrance - Revision 1:

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which
proclaims that everyone is entitled to all the rights and
freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind,
such as race, religion or other status,

Recalling Article 3 of the Universal Declaration on Human
Rights which states that everyone has the right to life,
liberty and security of person,

Recalling also Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on
Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political rights, that everyone has the right to
freedom of thought, conscience and religion,

Bearing in mind that the founding principle of the UN Charter
"to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" is
testimony to the indelible link between the United Nations
and the tragedy of World War II,

Taking note of the fact that the sixtieth Session of the
General Assembly is taking place during the sixtieth year of
the defeat of Nazi Germany,

Recalling the 28th Special Session of the General Assembly
which was held in commemoration of the liberation of the Nazi
concentration camps on January 24, 2005,

Recalling that the term "genocide" was invented in order to
describe the crimes of the Nazi regime, and that the
Holocaust itself is in fact the paradigm of genocide,

Honoring the courage and dedication shown by the soldiers who
liberated the concentration camps,

Reaffirming that the Holocaust which resulted in the murder
of one third of the Jewish people along with countless
members of other minorities will forever be a warning to all
people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism,
anti-Semitism and prejudice,


1. Resolves that the United Nations will designate the 27th
of January as an annual memorial day commemorating the
victims of the Holocaust.


2. Urges member States to develop educational programs which
will inculcate the future generations with the lessons of the
Holocaust and, in this context, commends the Task Force for
International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance
and Research;


3. Rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an historical
event, either in full or part;


4. Commends those states which have actively engaged in
preserving those sites which served as Nazi death camps,
concentration camps, forced labor camps and prisons during
the Holocaust;


5. Condemns without reserve all manifestations of
anti-Semitism, and all other acts of intolerance, incitement,
harassment or violence against persons or communities based
on ethnic origin or religious belief, wherever they occur;


6. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a Programme
of outreach on the subject of the Holocaust and the United
nations including, inter alia, publications, organization of
seminars and meetings as well as measures to mobilize civil
society for Holocaust remembrance and education and to report
thereof on the implementation of this resolution to the
General Assembly. End draft text.

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