NEW YORK - Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, the UN General Assembly president and a figure known for his harsh anti-Israel views is expected to open the International Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday.
D’Escoto, who took office in September, has repeatedly slammed Israel's policy in the Palestinian territories and compared it to the apartheid regime in South Africa.
| Sparking Row |
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| UN General Assembly president calls for boycott of Israel / Yitzhak Benhorin |
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After his controversial embrace with Iran's Ahmadinejad, D'Escoto sparks Jerusalem's ire once more after calling for international boycott on Jewish state |
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The UNGA chief has extended a very different welcome to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
whom he embraced during a General Assembly session and called "the president of a friendly nation that believes in dialogue."
During Operation Cast Lead
in Gaza, D’Escoto accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and called for an international boycott of the country.
On Tuesday the UN will hold a series of events marking Holocaust Memorial Day. Israel's Ambassador to the UN Prof. Gabriela Shalev and Rabbi Yisrael Lau are scheduled to address the General Assembly during the central ceremony. But their speeches will be preceded by a speech by D’Escoto.
Sources in the Israeli delegation to the UN expressed concern Sunday that D’Escoto might use the opportunity to attack Israel or draw comparisons between Israel's' actions in the territories and the Holocaust.
Jewish organizations in New York were also outraged by D’Escoto's intention to speak at the service, and released a letter calling on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to prevent the president from speaking at the event, which is also set to host many Holocaust survivors.
Noah Klieger contributed to the report
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