Gary Fitleberg, November 27, 2003

Finally the world is recognizing anti-Semitism is dangerous and detrimental to the entire international community.

For the first time in the history of the UN, a resolution focused on a condemnation of

anti-Semitism will be submitted to the General Assembly.

Sources in the UN said that EU ambassadors discussed joining the Irish initiative during a special meeting yesterday. A Western diplomat who participated in that meeting stated that France and Germany are going to join the Irish proposal.

It is not clear when the Irish will bring the resolution to a vote, but the consensus at the UN was that it will pass by a big majority. "The Europeans plan to invest a lot of effort to make sure it passes," said a Western diplomatic source.

The proposal will go to the General Assembly and not the Third Committee on Human Rights because of a formality regarding the timing of the submission precluding the proposal being allowed onto the agenda at this late date in Third Committee sessions.

The proposal being considered was submitted by Ireland after it rejected an Israeli request to include an explicit reference to anti-Semitism in a resolution submitted to the UN's Third Committee on Human Rights.

Furthermore, sources in UN headquarters said the Europeans want to bring the proposal directly to the General Assembly to give the decision against anti-Semitism a higher profile. The Irish initiative for a separate resolution on anti-Semitism is the result of an intensive diplomatic effort by Israel at this week's EU's foreign ministers' meeting. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom explained to his colleagues the importance of such a resolution in light of the terror attack in Istanbul and signs of anti-Semitism in Western Europe.

Arye Mekel, Israel's deputy head of mission, said yesterday that the special resolution against anti-Semitism is a "watershed" for the international community because it recognizes the phenomenon of anti-Semitism as dangerous and ugly.

Let us learn a lesson from the past and not perpetuate it the future!!!

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2003 Gary Fitleberg