Holocaust remembrance – Iran’s explanation of position on resolution – Letter from Israel

Letter dated 31 January 2006 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  The Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations expresses its deep concern and dismay that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in its explanation of position on the Holocaust Remembrance resolution, released on 23 January 2006 as document A/60/655, presents a regrettable and unfortunate statement about the historical nature of the Holocaust.

  This statement doubts the mass scale of the human suffering that the Jewish people specifically endured during the Holocaust; questions the overwhelming body of science that has, for decades, verified the existence of this genocide; and endeavours to politicize this dark moment in history by suggesting the State of Israel exploits “the sufferings of the Jewish people” for political purposes.

  We categorically reject this statement in its entirety. It is absurd that one Member State would call into question the unprecedented scale of human suffering that existed during the Holocaust, or doubt the effort to remember and honour those who perished at the hands of the Nazis.

  Yet, should not such a statement be expected from the only United Nations Member State to call for the destruction, indeed the “wiping off of the map”, of another Member State — the same country’s president suggesting that Jewish Israelis be sent back to Europe — the same country planning a conference to question the accepted history of the Holocaust? Surely the international community should, by now, expect such behaviour from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

  As you stated on 27 January 2006 during the International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Holocaust, “The abyss reached in the Nazi death camps started with hatred, prejudice and anti-Semitism. Recalling these origins can remind us to be ever on the lookout for warning signs”.

  Excellency, the recent posturing of the Islamic Republic of Iran represents, more than ever, such a warning sign.

  I would be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter circulated as a document of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, under agenda items 108, “Measures to eliminate international terrorism”, and 14, “The situation in the Middle East”.

(Signed) Dan Gillerman 

Ambassador

Permanent Representative of Israel

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