_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brener")
Diplomatic duel: Israel vs. Cuba
Cuban ambassador to UN attacks Israel for Gaza blockade as representative of non-aligned movement; Israeli ambassador responds by saying it is unclear who Cuba purports to represent
WASHINGTON - Diplomatic Duel between Israel and Cuba at the UN: Cuba's UN Ambassador, Rodrigo Malmierca made a speech at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday in which he claimed to represent the non-aligned movement and attacked Israel for its ongoing blockade on the Gaza Strip saying it was responsible for the hardships being faced by Palestinians in the enclave.
Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman was unpleased with Malmierca's remarks and asked for permission to respond. Gillerman cynically asked the Cuban: "Who is this group representing since the Cold War has already ended?"
It didn't end there. The Cuban ambassador filed a complaint with the UN Security Council president in which he expressed his anger over Gillerman's remarks describing them as "harmful and distorted."
The Israeli delegation to the UN fired back a letter of response in which it once again asked in what name the Cuban ambassador was speaking. Was he representing his opinion?
Many countries that are members of the non-aligned nations, such as Vietnam and Panama, have condemned Palestinian terrorism and support Israel's right to respond to terrorist attacks and were not party to the formulation that the Cuban ambassador decided to present.
Thus, the Israeli delegation claimed that the Cuban was not representing the whole group.
