US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV4800

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004800 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/UNP AND NEA/IPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, IS, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: REVISED ISRAELI TEXT OF UNGA HOLOCAUST RESOLUTION 
 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Adam Sterling for reasons 1.4 
 (B) and (D). 
 
1. (C) MFA Director for UN Political Affairs Rony Adam 
discussed the GOI's draft resolution on Holocaust remembrance 
with poloff on August 2.  Adam provided a copy of the revised 
text (attached), which has minor changes to preliminary 
paragraphs four (removing the word "unique" to describe World 
War II) and eight (substituting the verb "honoring" for 
"recalling"), as well as substantive changes to operational 
paragraph six (adding the phrase "and to report thereof on 
the implementation of this resolution to the General 
Assembly" at the end of the point) and the removal of 
operational paragraph seven in its entirety.  Adam explained 
that several European states had objected to an annual UNGA 
agenda item on Holocaust remembrance, and Israel had offered 
the changes to address this concern.  Adam said the MFA's new 
goal is to have the UNGA address Holocaust remembrance and 
education every five years.  He noted that the resolution 
remains one of the GOI's top priorities at this year's UNGA. 
 
2. (SBU)  Begin text of draft Israeli resolution on Holocaust 
remembrance - Revision 1: 
 
The General Assembly, 
 
Reaffirming the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which 
proclaims that everyone is entitled to all the rights and 
freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, 
such as race, religion or other status, 
 
Recalling Article 3 of the Universal Declaration on Human 
Rights which states that everyone has the right to life, 
liberty and security of person, 
 
Recalling also Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on 
Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on 
Civil and Political rights, that everyone has the right to 
freedom of thought, conscience and religion, 
 
Bearing in mind that the founding principle of the UN Charter 
"to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" is 
testimony to the indelible link between the United Nations 
and the tragedy of World War II, 
 
Taking note of the fact that the sixtieth Session of the 
General Assembly is taking place during the sixtieth year of 
the defeat of Nazi Germany, 
 
Recalling the 28th Special Session of the General Assembly 
which was held in commemoration of the liberation of the Nazi 
concentration camps on January 24, 2005, 
 
Recalling that the term "genocide" was invented in order to 
describe the crimes of the Nazi regime, and that the 
Holocaust itself is in fact the paradigm of genocide, 
 
Honoring the courage and dedication shown by the soldiers who 
liberated the concentration camps, 
 
Reaffirming that the Holocaust which resulted in the murder 
of one third of the Jewish people along with countless 
members of other minorities will forever be a warning to all 
people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism, 
anti-Semitism and prejudice, 
 
1.  Resolves that the United Nations will designate the 27th 
of January as an annual memorial day commemorating the 
victims of the Holocaust. 
 
2.  Urges member States to develop educational programs which 
will inculcate the future generations with the lessons of the 
Holocaust and, in this context, commends the Task Force for 
International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance 
and Research; 
 
3.  Rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an historical 
event, either in full or part; 
 
4.  Commends those states which have actively engaged in 
preserving those sites which served as Nazi death camps, 
concentration camps, forced labor camps and prisons during 
the Holocaust; 
 
5.  Condemns without reserve all manifestations of 
anti-Semitism, and all other acts of intolerance, incitement, 
harassment or violence against persons or communities based 
on ethnic origin or religious belief, wherever they occur; 
 
6.  Requests the Secretary-General to establish a Programme 
of outreach on the subject of the Holocaust and the United 
nations including, inter alia, publications, organization of 
seminars and meetings as well as measures to mobilize civil 
society for Holocaust remembrance and education and to report 
thereof on the implementation of this resolution to the 
General Assembly.  End draft text. 
 
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