UN marks 15 years since repeal of 'Zionism equals racism'

Resolution 3379, adopted in 1975 and repealed in December 1991, declared that "Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination."

By MICHAL LANDO, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT
UN general council 298.8 (photo credit: Courtesy)
UN general council 298.8
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The UN will mark the 15th anniversary of the repeal of the General Assembly Resolution that equated Zionism with racism on Thursday. Resolution 3379, adopted in 1975 and repealed in December 1991, declared that "Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination." It was one of countless resolutions reflecting a long-standing antagonism between the UN and Israel. Sunday's event, a panel discussion to be held by the UN's Department of Public Information, will be the first ever commemoration of the repeal at the world body. "At a time when we see the odious canard of 'Zionism equals racism' reasserted, I felt it would be an ideal opportunity to remind the world that this notion was rejected by the international community," said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The panel will include Israel's ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman, other diplomats, UN officials and NGO representatives. It will be followed by an event sponsored by the conference to pay tribute to the late US senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the late president of Israel Chaim Herzog, who, as ambassadors to the UN, defied the majority when the resolution was adopted in 1975. Then, Herzog told the General Assembly the resolution was "another manifestation of the bitter anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish hatred which animates Arab society... "For us, the Jewish people, this resolution based on hatred, falsehood and arrogance is devoid of any moral or legal value. For us, the Jewish people, this is no more than a piece of paper and we shall treat it as such." As he concluded his speech, Herzog ripped a copy of the resolution in half. "There are currently efforts around the world to raise the question of the legitimacy of Israel's birth, intended to intimidate Israel," said Hoenlein. Especially worrisome are the widespread claims that the problems in the Middle East stem from Israel, he said.