The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has criticized United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for omitting Israel from a number of countries he mentioned in remarks condemning recent terrorist attacks upon civilians. The ZOA notes that Israel has been the most consistent target of terrorist attacks for decades and has lost the lives of over 1,500 civilians since the 1993 Oslo process commenced. During 2015 alone, 23 Israeli civilians have been murdered by terrorists, including eight in the month preceding Mr. Ban’s comment.
Yet, prior to the official launch of the Paris climate conference, Mr. Ban called for a minute of silence to commemorate, not only the 132 victims of the November jihadist terrorist attacks in Paris, but those killed in other recent terrorist attacks around the world, saying, “I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all recent victims of terrorism. No cause or grievance can justify the violence we have seen in recent days and weeks, here in Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, Tunis, Bamako, and elsewhere.”
ZOA National Chairman of the Board Dr. Michael Goldblatt said, “The ZOA is appalled that Secretary-General Ban refuses to include Israel among those who have suffered from radical Islamic terrorism in recent weeks.
“In Paris, Mr. Ban cited several countries –– many of which have endured less terrorism than Israel in recent years –– but said nothing of Israel, where more than a score of Israelis have been murdered and scores more injured by Palestinian terrorists in the last two months.
“The recent terrorist attacks in Israel are all well-known and have been widely reported. This is not a case of Mr. Ban failing to mention facts that might not be well-known –– little enough excuse for his omission as that would be.
“Israel has been a primary target of radical Islamic and Arab terrorist organizations for decades, with special intensity in the past 15 years. Over 1,500 Israelis have been murdered by terrorists and over 10,000 more wounded and maimed. Eight more Israelis have been murdered in the last month alone.
“In fact, in per capita terms, far more Israelis have been murdered by terrorists than Americans were murdered on 9/11.
“The scenes of repeated terrorist carnage on Israeli streets are, tragically, all too familiar to all of us. It is therefore hard to believe that Mr. Ban’s omission of an Israeli city when referring to cities around the world that have been targeted by terrorists in recent months was accidental.
“Sadly — and scandalously –– it would seem that Mr. Ban is willing to exclude Israel from the common concern of mankind in confronting and memorializing the terrorism of which he speaks. Worse, such omission implies that those who murder and maim Israelis, because they are Israelis, are not really terrorists.
“If Mr. Ban had no such intentions, then he should immediately clarify that Israel is also among the victims of recent terrorism and that he mourns the Israeli victims of terrorism no less than those of Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, Tunis and Bamako.”