From Shimon Peres:
As you know, tonight begins the day of commemoration of the Holocaust all over the world and in Israel. I feel deeply hurt and ashamed that on such a day, there is the opening of a racist conference in Geneva, and the main speaker is who? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. A man that calls to wipe Israel off of the map. A man who denies the Holocaust.
There must be a limit, even to the neutrality of Switzerland. Today is the day? This is the man to speak? This is the outlook for the future? I don’t want to speak too much about Iran. But in Iran, people are hanged because they are suspected of God knows what — nothing. There is a center of hate, of blood, of terror.
I am very grateful to the United States of America and the other six countries that decided not to attend this shame of Durban, and to keep a human face and human hope for people who would like to see a world without racism, without terror, without hanging, and without incitement. So we don’t have a conference, but we have a Lord in Heaven, and we shall pray to him today.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.