At UNESCO Meeting, Cuban Ambassador Questions the Israeli Ambassador's Request for a Minute of Silence for Holocaust Victims, Calling for another Minute of Silence for Palestinians
At the UNESCO (U.N. Education Science and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Committee meeting in Krakow, Poland on Tuesday, the Cuban ambassador questioned the Israeli ambassador’s request for a minute of silence for Holocaust victims, calling for another minute of silence for the Palestinians.
The Israeli Ambassador, Carmel Shama HaCohen, noted that he had previously approached the Arab delegations with a request that they would be sensitive to the location of the meeting (noting the proximity of Auschwitz) asking them to table anti-Jewish resolutions regarding Israel.
However, earlier that day, the committee passed an Arab-initiated measure denouncing Israeli activity in Jerusalem’s Old City by declaring it an occupying power.
HaCohen then stated, “I therefore request that this body stands with us in a minute of silence in solemn memory of the six million murdered Jews, and all those who were killed by the Nazi animal, or died fighting against it.”
He then suggested that the Arab ambassadors of the Arab countries and their partners take a tour of the German Nazi camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. “Maybe there you will understand that even the darkest hours, where they separated parents from their children, dismembered live people, and where they separated human beings from humanity, the Nazis could not succeed in separating the Jewish people from our eternal capital, Jerusalem.” He then requested that the attendees stand with him for a minute of silence in memory of the six million murdered Jews.
The floor was then given to Cuba’s representative, who stated that only the chairman can ask for a minute of silence rather than a delegate.
She then stated, “I do think that this is an incorrect interpretation of this decision. I think the decision has been manipulated once again, this committee does not take any decisions concerning measures against Israel nor against the Jewish people and that is turning this meeting into a politicized circus.”
She then asked for a minute of silence at the request of the Chair and invited the audience to “stand for a minute of silence for all of the Palestinians who have died in the region.
There was applause from the representatives as they stood for a moment of silence for the Palestinians.
Compiled by Arab America