Israel protests UN chief Ban Ki-Moon's use of term 'nakba'

Haaretz Last update - 02:35 16/05/2008
By Rotem Sela, TheMarker Correspondent, and Haaretz Service

The Israeli mission to the United Nations is seeking clarifications after an official communique released by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's bureau made specific reference to the word "nakba," according to a report broadcast on Israel Radio early Friday morning. The report said the UN chief telephoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to express his solidarity with the Palestinians on the day they mark the "nakba," the Arabic word meaning "catastrophe" that is used in reference to the founding of the state of Israel. Danny Carmon, Israel's deputy ambassador to the UN, told Israel Radio that the term "'nakba' is a tool of Arab propaganda used to undermine the legitimacy of the establishment of the State of Israel, and it must not be part of the lexicon of the UN."

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday said that the Palestinians will be able to celebrate their independence day on the same day that the word "nakba" or catastrophe is erased from their lexicon. Livni was referring to the Palestinians' "Nakba Day" which is commemorated on May 15, the day Israel was founded in 1948. Speaking at the closing panel of the "Facing Tomorrow" presidential conference in Jerusalem, Livni said that Israel needs a constitution, and stressed that since Israel views itself as a Jewish democratic state, it must take into account that it will have to relinquish territories. However, she said, land will only be handed over after the Palestinians change their stance. "Deciding on fixed borders is important, but not enough; before we draw up a border we must decide what will be on the other side of it," she said. Defense Minister Ehud Barak also addressed the crowd in Jerusalem, saying that "there is no future for a nation that doesn't know its past." After giving an overview of the history of the state of Israel, Barak said that of all the events that Israel has experienced, the one thing that he remembers most is the day that he met Ronny, the female fighter pilot from Kibbutz Lohamei HaGetaot, who symbolized for him the long way the Jewish people had come since the Holocaust. "Ronny flies in circles 30,000 feet over Kibbutz Lohamei HaGetaot, which was established in memory of those who fought in the Holocaust," he said. Though he called for peace in his address, Barak chose to disparage those who urge immediate peace negotiations with the Palestinians, saying "the saying 'the wolf shall dwell with the lamb' came out of Jerusalem, but in practice, the lamb is replaced every few days." Opposition leader and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu began his address before the conference with a focus on finance. He said that Israel could turn into an "Israeli tiger" ? referencing the Celtic tiger, a nickname given to Ireland following its rapid financial development since the mid 1990s. "Israel can enjoy 6-8 percent growth each year over the next decade," the former finance minister said. He emphasized the importance of the reforms that he had instituted during his tenure as finance minister, which, according to him, directly resulted in the financial growth Israel has enjoyed in recent years. All three speakers chose to emphasize the importance of education in their speeches. Barak said that Israel's only resource was the grey matter between the ears of Israel's younger generation. He added that the only way to achieve security and prosperity was to invest in education.