On November 10, 1975, the United Nations passed Resolution 3379, which defines Zionism as a form of racism and racial discrimination. This week, the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN, together with the Yad Chaim Herzog Association and American Jewish Congress, will hold a special event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the resolution.

Exactly 37 years after the infamous Kristallnacht anti-Jewish riots in Germany, which occurred on the evening of November 9, 1938, and marked the beginning of the Holocaust, the United Nations (UN) passed an anti-Semitic resolution against the Jewish state, affirming that Zionism is racism.The vote concluded with 72 in favor, 35 against and 32 abstentions.

As noted by the Center for Israel Education, Israel’s victory in the June 1967 Six Day War strengthened the resolve of the former Soviet Union and its Arab allies to move its battle against the Jewish state to the political arena. The “Zionism is Racism” resolution was passed on November 10, 1975.

Then-US Ambassador to the UN Daniel Patrick Moynihan stated, following the passing of the resolution: “The United States rises to declare before the General Assembly of the United Nations, and before the world, that it does not acknowledge, it will not abide by, it will never acquiesce in this infamous act…The lie is that Zionism is a form of racism. The overwhelmingly clear truth is that it is not.”

In his remarks to the UN, then-Israeli Ambassador to the UN Chaim Herzog noted that the passing of the resolution coincided with the 37^th anniversary of Kristallnacht (the Night of the Crystals).

‘Deep, Pervading Feeling of Anti-Semitism’

“This was the night in 1938 when Hitler’s Nazi storm-troopers launched a coordinated attack on the Jewish community in Germany, burned the synagogues in all its cities and made bonfires in the streets of the Holy Books and the Scrolls of the Holy Law and Bible. It was the night when Jewish homes were attacked and heads of families taken away, many of them never to return. It was the night when the windows of all Jewish businesses and stores were smashed, covering the streets in the cities of Germany with a film of broken glass which dissolved into the millions of crystals which gave that night its name. It was the night which led eventually to the crematoria and the gas chambers, Auschwitz, Birkenau, Dachau, Buchenwald, Theresienstadt and others. It was the night which led to the most terrifying holocaust in the history of man,” Herzog stated.

“It is indeed befitting…that this debate, conceived in the desire to deflect the Middle East from its moves towards peace and born of a deep pervading feeling of anti-Semitism, should take place on the anniversary of this day,” he continued. “It is indeed befitting, Mr. President, that the United Nations, which began its life as an anti-Nazi alliance, should 30 years later find itself on its way to becoming the world center of anti-Semitism. Hitler would have felt at home on a number of occasions during the past year, listening to the proceedings in this forum, and above all to the proceedings during the debate on Zionism.”

UN ‘Dragged to its Lowest Point of Discredit’

However, “the issue is neither Israel nor Zionism. The issue is the continued existence of this organization, which has been dragged to its lowest point of discredit by a coalition of despots and racists,” Herzog declared.

“The vote of each delegation will record in history its country’s stand on anti-Semitic racism and anti-Judaism. You yourselves bear the responsibility for your stand before history, for as such will you be viewed in history. We, the Jewish people, will not forget. For us, the Jewish people, this is but a passing episode in a rich and event-filled history. We put our trust in our Providence, in our faith and beliefs, in our time-hallowed tradition, in our striving for social advance and human values, and in our people wherever they may be. For us, the Jewish people, this resolution based on hatred, falsehood and arrogance, is devoid of any moral or legal value.”

On Wednesday, the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN, together with the Yad Chaim Herzog Association and American Jewish Congress, will hold a special event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the UN resolution. Attendees will include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, the family of the late Chaim Herzog and other prominent guests.

“Forty years ago, a dark chapter was written in the UN’s history, and despite the retraction of the resolution, the hypocrisy and delegitimization against Israel still echo in the halls of this organization, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon commented with regard to this event. “The UN must tear this page from its history and open a new page of fairness and equality among all its member states.”

By: United with Israel Staff