Genocides will continue unless UN priorities change: Rivlin

Speaking to the UN General Assembly in New York Wednesday, President Reuven Rivlin warns that unless the world changes its priorities, genocides will continue to be perpetrated.

“At the end of the day, this Assembly too, like any political institution, is motivated by many different considerations and interests,” says Rivlin. “Even if we agree on clear red lines – that is not enough. We must agree that in the fight against genocide – the humanitarian and moral consideration must take precedence over economic, political and other interests.”

Rivlin continues: “Unless the moral fire burns within us, the lesson of the Holocaust will never be learned.

“Communities and nations will continue to be murdered, children, women, men and the elderly will continue to march to their death to the enlightened music of the ‘orchestra of death’, against the background of a cynical and apathetic world, and through no fault of their own.

“The oath of “Never Again” will remain hollow and defiled, and we, all of us, will remain forever – [concentration] camp inmates.”

Rivlin adds that accusations of murder and war crimes against Israel “not only… confuse between partner and enemy; they also sabotage the ability of this Assembly to effectively fight the phenomenon of genocide.”

Notably, Rivlin spoke at some length about the Armenian Genocide. Israel has not recognize the 1915 murder of over one million Armenians by Turkey as a genocide, but Rivlin has been outspoken in support of recognition. When he became president, however, he reluctantly withdrew that support.