United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. (Emil Salman/POOL/Flash90)
Israel is demanding that the UN condemn Iran for its anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. Iran plans to host another cartoon contest in June and has allocated a cash prize of $50,000 for the “best cartoon on the Holocaust.” This contest typifies Iran’s Holocaust denial and its efforts to ridicule or use it for anti-Israel propaganda.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein sent a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in which he expressed Israel`s outrage over Iran`s plans to hold its International Holocaust Cartoon Contest for the third time in recent years.
”There are no words strong enough to describe the contempt and profound disdain of the State of Israel, of the Israeli people and many others the world over, for Iran`s insistent Holocaust denial, continued under Rouhani`s regime despite its false façade of tolerance toward the Iranian as well as World Jewry,” Edelstein said in the letter, sent Wednesday morning.
”The current President of Iran does not differ from his notorious predecessor, Ahmadinejad, and like him does not even attempt to conceal Iran`s intent to eliminate the State of Israel. Iran`s resumed development of nuclear capabilities that will allow it to fulfill this threat is further proof of their ultimate goal.”
Edelstein pointed out that “not only does a member state of the UN consistently and overtly threaten to destroy another member state, it does so merely 70 years after the dreadful Holocaust of the Jewish people.”
”As the head of an organization that in 2005 adopted the brave resolution to establish January 27th as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I ask that you exert your moral authority through public condemnation of the Iranian policy by addressing this matter directly with Iran as well,” the Knesset speaker requested.
Edelstein also sent a letter to all Members of Knesset (MK) urging a consolidated effort on social media ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day in order to ”express Israel`s disgust” for the cartoon contest in Iran and other displays of anti-Semitism around the world. He asked the Israeli lawmakers to post on the social networks photos from the Holocaust with the caption ”My Holocaust memory” and add a brief description of what Holocaust Remembrance Day means to them.
The Knesset Speaker also instructed the relevant departments in the Knesset to organize an exhibition of photos and posters relating to the commemoration of the Holocaust. The exhibit will be launched at the Knesset on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
”The days of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Der Stürmer are over,” Edelstein said in the letter to the MKs. ”The Jewish nation and its leadership must launch a counterattack to eliminate the bag of lies. We mustn`t remain silent amid the growing anti-Semitism and the hateful and venomous attitude towards the Jewish people. These days we are fighting back will all the publicity, diplomatic and parliamentary tools at our disposal in order to make it clear that we will not ignore nor accept racist and despicable incitement.”
Also on Wednesday,Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon demanded that Ban condemn Iran for its Holocaust cartoon contest that features and promotes Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism.
“This is an anti-Semitic act that exemplifies pure evil. Holocaust denial is the strongest expression of anti-Semitism, which legitimizes murder,” Danon wrote in a letter to Ban.
“The Iranians are trying to desecrate the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the United Nations must stand by Israel and condemn this heinous act,” Danon wrote.
Iran is offering a $50,00 prize for the best cartoon on the Holocaust in a contest to be held in Tehran in June. They say the contestants from some 50 countries have entered the contest.
Iran, as state policy, denies the Holocaust, claiming it is a Zionist ruse to gain control of “Palestine.” This contest typifies Iran’s Holocaust denial and its efforts to ridicule or use it for anti-Israel propaganda.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel
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