Israeli UN envoy urges other diplomats to stay away from Monday ‘Nakba’ event
Luke Tress is a JTA reporter and a former editor and reporter in New York for The Times of Israel.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan calls on other UN envoys to not attend a Monday event at the General Assembly marking the “Nakba,” the Palestinian term for the “catastrophe” of Israel’s establishment.
“The thought that an international organization could mark the establishment of one of its member states as a catastrophe or disaster is both appalling and repulsive,” the letter says.
“Not only does this condone Jew-hatred, but it also gives a green light to the Palestinians to continue exploiting international organs to promote their libelous narrative,” it says.
“Attending one-sided Palestinian initiatives that falsely brand Israel as the source of all evil does not bring the conflict closer to an end, but only serves to inflame tensions. I deeply urge you not to take part in the shameful ‘Nakba’ Event.”
Erdan says the Israeli mission has “managed to convince a number of countries to boycott this despicable event” and is trying to sway others.
The commemoration of the Nakba, the first of its kind at the UN, will include a high-level special meeting at UN Headquarters in New York and a special event in the General Assembly Hall. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is traveling to New York to attend.
The General Assembly approved the event in December with a vote of 90 in favor, 30 against and 47 abstentions.
