New York – The ZOA has praised the efforts by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, to strongly support Israel and see that the U.N. adopts a more principled approach to Israel. This week, Ambassador Bolton criticized the U.N. Security Council for failing to condemn Monday’s terrorist attack in Netanya, which killed five Israelis and maimed over 30 more.
A U.S. draft resolution condemning the terrorist attack failed to pass the Council, following objections from Algeria to a passage in the resolution urging Syria to close the offices of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the terrorist group that carried out the Netanya attack. Ambassador Bolton then issued the condemnation in the name of the United States and criticized the Council for “failing to speak the truth … you have to speak up in response to these terrorist attacks. It’s a great shame that the Security Council couldn’t speak to this terrorist attack in Netanya, but if the Council won’t speak, the United States will” (Voice of America News, December 7).
Last month, Ambassador Bolton also applied great pressure on the Security Council to issue an unprecedented condemnation of Hezbollah attacks upon northern Israel, which the resolution described as “acts of hatred.” This was the first occasion the Security Council has ever criticized Hezbollah for its decades-long terrorist assaults upon Israel. The resolution condemning Hezbollah by name came about after two days of efforts to obtain a statement, in which any mention of Hezbollah was opposed by Algeria. When asked what had produced the change, one diplomatic official replied: “John Bolton” (Jerusalem Post, November 23).
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “The ZOA praises and strongly supports the heroic efforts of Ambassador Bolton to bring about fair treatment of Israel and decent conduct within the United Nations. His efforts to have Hezbollah condemned at last for its vicious terrorist assaults on Israel without the usual ‘balancing’ criticism of Israel for legitimately striking back at Hezbollah is a major achievement and speaks volumes for his commitment to justice, the war on Islamic terrorism and fair dealing for Israel and the world.
“Ambassador Bolton’s recent efforts on the Netanya bombing and Hezbollah follow a long, principled record of support for Israel . He has been very active in recent weeks attempting to trim the wastage of the U.N. budget on propaganda efforts on behalf of the Palestinians through U.N. bodies paid for, among others, by the American taxpayer, such as the UN Division for Palestinian Rights, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices in the Occupied Territories.
“It is also vital to mention in this context that it was Ambassador Bolton who piloted through the U.N. the rescission of the infamous ‘Zionism is Racism’ resolution in 1991, something he proudly describes as a ‘highlight of my career’ and one that removed ‘the greatest stain on the U.N.’s reputation.’
“Ambassador Bolton has acted with courage and effectiveness to reverse some of the worst practices within the U.N. and deserves the gratitude of the American Jewish community. The ZOA is honored that Ambassador Bolton will be delivering the keynote address at our National Dinner on Sunday, December 11, which will be taking place at the Marriott Marquis in New York City (for more information, call ZOA on 212-481-1500).
“It is a great credit to the United States that it has a man of such principle, character and integrity representing it within the U.N., which has been so hostile to both Israel and the United States. The ZOA calls on all Jewish organizations to publicly praise John Bolton for his great work and to thank President Bush for this splendid appointment.”