Click refresh to see new updates during the day
At last night’s official Yom Hashoah Holocaust remembrance ceremony at Yad Vashem, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said:
“We will not allow the Holocaust deniers to carry out another Holocaust against the Jewish people. This is the supreme duty of the state of Israel. This is my supreme duty as prime minister of Israel.”
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
9:08PM: Over 100 countries today approved a 16-page declaration which reaffirmed a statement from the first global racism meeting that mentioned only one country.
No prizes for guessing which country that is.
8:22PM: Israel’s former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Lau:
“Come to Yad Vashem, we will present you with all the documents, archives, and memories. We will present you with all the testimonials so that you are convinced there really was a Holocaust.”
That was an invitation to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I somehow don’t think he’s going to RSVP.
6:50PM: Here is Elie Wiesel being verbally abused as a “Zio-Nazi” by Ahmadinejad’s entourage at Durban II (hat tip: Lawhawk).
Evil.
6:40PM: Ever wondered where the term “holocaust” came from? Wonder no more, thanks to those helpful folks over at Iran’s official news agency!
Many linguists believe that the word holocaust, which is a Greek word — holo means all and caust meaning “to burn to ashes”, was originally coined to refer to a criminal incident in ancient Yemen committed by Jews who burnt alive a large group of chained and handcuffed men, women and children for their adherence to teachings the Jesus Christ (PBUH).
You learn something new every day.
If you want to learn more facts about the holocaust, read the entire article. You’ll just need a strong stomach and tolerance for utter BS.
6:10PM: Here is a much clearer view of Ahmadinejad’s speech, the projectile throwing protest clown, and the diplomats who walked out (almost 10 minutes of footage).
5:45PM: At 10AM this morning, the country came to a standstill for two minutes as air-raid sirens sounded to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.
It is surreal. People literally stop what they are doing, stand quietly and reflect on the 6 million Jews who perished.
This should give you an idea as to what it is like.
There was an extra surreal quality to my experience. We postponed a video conference meeting by two minutes so we could stand in silence.
The meeting was with German colleagues.
4:48PM: Banky to the rescue!
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dropped language describing the Holocaust as “ambiguous and dubious” from a speech attacking Israel at a United Nations racism conference, the UN Said Tuesday.
The UN and the Iranian Mission in Geneva did not comment on why the change was made, but UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday that he had met with Ahmadinejad before his speech and reminded him that the UN had adopted resolutions “to revoke the equation of Zionism with racism and to reaffirm the historical facts of the Holocaust.”
I suppose the UN wants us to be grateful for this?
9:18AM: In the wake of Ahmadinejad’s reprehensible display at the UN Conference Against Racism, the US has made it known that they are still open to dialogue with Iran.
That’s the spirit! Send the message that no matter what Iran does or says, there will always be room to talk.
With such a lack of consequences for their actions, why on earth wouldn’t Iran continue to try and wipe us off the map?
6:05AM: Interesting video report on the dueling pro-palestinian and pro-Israel gatherings leading up to the UN Conference Against Racism.
