Iranian leader’s Nazi style remarks go unanswered

Incessantly and repeatedly the President of Iran Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust as a catastrophe that never occurred. He constantly calls for the dismantling of the State of Israel and predicts the re-dispersal of the Jewish people gathered in its homeland Israel. 

Ahmadinejad’s Nazi style utterances against the Jewish people and the State of Israel go unanswered. There is no reaction to these abhorrent declarations. There is no international uproar, no world condemnation of a president of a UN member state vowed and at pains to eliminate another state.

This acceptance of a neo-Nazi policy, ideology and pursuit is intolerable and unforgivable. The western world remains aloof, accustomed to Iran’s president’s negation of Israel.  

Could it be that the world remains quiet because of underlying anti-Semitic predispositions? Perhaps it is not disconnected from rising anti-Semitism in the world – particularly in Europe where, a year ago – a poll conducted under the auspices of the European Community – found Israel alongside the pariah North Korea as the countries endangering world peace the most.  

Most sordid reminder of the Holocaust

Ahmadinejad is denying the existence of the Holocaust as an historical fact. But, as a matter of fact he is the most sordid reminder of the Holocaust, also in the sense that now, as then, the world had not been alert and responsive to the coming storm – to the looming disaster.

But what is more astonishing is the fact that there is no resounding reaction – but a mute voice – on the part of Israel and the Jewish leadership in Europe and the United States.

Instead of mobilizing world public opinion to condemn Ahmadinejad’s proclamations through the world press, parliaments, universities etc., instead of instigating and persuading the countries of the world not to put up with Ahmadinejad’s Nazi vocabulary and start a movement to expel Iran from the family of nations – Israel and the Jewish leadership remain silent.  

This is unacceptable and it reflects a lacking self-respect, and yet another dimension of the diminishing military and political deterrence. Look how the Muslim world became outraged once it felt hurt and dishonored. Israel and the Jewish leaders should have, by now, inspired a resounding global protest to Ahmadinejad’s castigations.  

Our responsibility

Only a few weeks ago, we witnessed the bitter end of a policy of keeping things dormant when the Hizbullah managed to cause an entire region of Israel to be evacuated – a situation reminiscent of the War of Independence.  

When a president of a country calls for the destruction of the State of Israel, it is the obligation of the Israeli government, the ADL and the Presidents Conference to act in full force – with the utmost of determination, aptitude, pride and self-respect. Silence and inactivity in this regard is intolerable and irresponsible.

There should not be another manifestation of helplessness and lack of diplomatic skill and ability.