Haaretz reports that the UN Sec’y-General used the word "Nakba" yesterday, angering Israel.
The [UN’s official] report said the UN chief telephoned Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas to express his solidarity with the Palestinians
on the day they mark the "nakba," the Arabic word meaning "catastrophe"
that is used in reference to the founding of the state of Israel.
Danny Carmon, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UN, told Israel
Radio that the term "’nakba’ is a tool of Arab propaganda used to
undermine the legitimacy of the establishment of the State of Israel,
and it must not be part of the lexicon of the UN."
Apparently it’s the first time the UN has used the word, Nakba. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni made the same point re Nakba in a speech yesterday, per Ynet:
"with the establishment of a Palestinian
state, we wish to see the end of the conflict. The Palestinians will be able to
celebrate their independence if on that same day they also strike the word
‘Nakba’ from their lexicon."
Now close your eyes and for just one second imagine how I’d feel if you told me not to use the word "pogrom" to describe what happened to my ancestors in Russia.
