AJCommittee Calls On United Nations Members To Reject Israel-Bashing And Boycotts At Unnecessary Emergency Session

American Jewish Committee
Monday, 14 July 1997

The American Jewish Committee today urged the members of the United Nations General Assembly to firmly reject the latest example of Israel-bashing being propagated by the PLO and Arab States in connection with a special session of the UN General Assembly being reconvened this week.

"The days are long since past for this kind of ritualized, one-sided condemnation of Israel - and Israel alone -- at the UN. Treating Israel as a political football - to be kicked around at will - does not bring credit to the world organization struggling to reform itself and reestablish its credibility," said David A. Harris, the AJC's Executive Director.

The American Jewish Committee has been strongly supportive of the Arab-Israeli peace process. To be successful in moving the process forward, the parties must build confidence with one another and avoid actions that erode it. A framework for such a process already exists and has proved its worth again and again. It's called direct negotiation between the parties themselves. That process, however, is now being severely damaged by PLO instigation of a one-sided UN resolution at an unnecessary emergency session that threatens boycotts and punitive limits on Israel's membership in the world body. Such action is not only counter-productive for the peace process, but destructive of the UN.

"We urgently call upon every member of the General Assembly to

- look at the Middle East dispute responsibly;

- emphasize the importance of direct negotiations as the best chance for achieving peace; and

- reject the all-too-familiar and counter-productive attempts to place all blame for all ills on Israel and Israel alone.

"We earnestly hope that UN members will consider carefully the damage an ill-intended and one-sided resolution can bring to the cause of peace in the Middle East and to the future and effectiveness of the United Nations itself," the AJC Executive Director said.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org