Carmel Shama HaCohen praises Andres Roemer for walkout over his country’s support for anti-Israel resolution, but urges him to rethink ‘premature’ resignation
Israel’s ambassador to UNESCO wrote to his Jewish counterpart from Mexico after the latter walked out of last week’s vote on a resolution effectively denying Judaism’s historic ties to Jerusalem, urging him not to resign and praising him as a friend of the Jewish state.
UNESCO’s resolution, sponsored by several Arab countries, referred to the Temple Mount and Western Wall — Judaism’s holiest sites — only by their Muslim names, and condemned Israel as “the occupying power” for various actions taken in both places. Approved at the cultural body’s committee stage in Paris on Thursday, the resolution must still be validated by the Executive Board of UNESCO when it meets Tuesday, but the wording is unlikely to change.
Mexico was one of the 24 countries who voted in favor of the resolution. Six nations (including the US, Germany and Britain) voted against and another 26 abstained.
In his letter, Israeli envoy Carmel Shama HaCohen said that he found it “personally moving” when Andres Roemer exited the session on Jerusalem, “to actively avoid the vote against your conscience.” However, HaCohen advised Roemer to remain in his post as ambassador as he would be “a great asset to Mexico and a friend to Israel.”
HaCohen wrote: “I would like to express my deepest appreciation to your assistance in advice and insight. Your presence as a friend is highly appreciated and welcomed. I am looking forward to continue working together with you in the future.
“Furthermore, it was personally moving to see you leave the room during the vote in order to actively avoid the vote against your conscience.
“Moreover, I found your consideration to resign from your post as pre-matured and rushed [sic]. I am sure that you will be a great asset to Mexico and a friend to Israel.”
The letter, which is printed on official Israeli government stationary, is dated October 14, 2016 and personally signed by HaCohen.
Both UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and chairman of the UNESCO Executive Board Michael Worbs expressed displeasure at the outcome of Thursday’s vote.
In an interview to Israeli television on Friday, Worbs apologized for the resolution, shortly after expressing the hope that the Board’s Tuesday meeting could be delayed, in order to reach a consensus on the resolution before a formal vote.
Bokova, meanwhile, told MK Tzipi Livni that her organization would battle the delegitimization of Israel, as well as continue to promote Jewish heritage around the world and fight against Holocaust denial.
Responding to a letter sent on the eve of the vote by the former Israeli foreign minister, Bokova said that she herself recognizes the sanctity of the Temple Mount and the Western Wall to the Jewish people, and highlighted various UNESCO activities aimed at upholding Judaism’s connection to the land of Israel.
In her initial letter, Livni warned that the resolution could spark religious conflict and violations of the decades-long status quo at Jerusalem’s flashpoint holy sites.
Bokova also signaled her dismay at the resolution on Friday, saying efforts to deny history and the city’s complex multi-faith character harm UNESCO.
The Israeli leadershipreacted furiously to the resolution, with some accusing UNESCO of anti-Semitism. Lawmakers from both the right and left of the political spectrum said the decision was ill-befitting of the cultural body.
Israelis and many Jews around the world view the move as the latest example of an ingrained anti-Israel bias at the United Nations, where Israel and its allies are far outnumbered by Arab countries and their supporters.
Israel informed Bokova on Friday that it was suspending its cooperation with UNESCO over the vote, with Education Minister Naftali Bennett calling the motion a denial of history that “gives a boost to terrorism.”
As reported by The Times of Israel