New York, NY, January 26, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed disappointment at a statement by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon which appeared to justify the current wave of Palestinian terror as “human nature.”
ADL referred to Ban’s comments as “highly disturbing,” and called on the Secretary General to clarify his statement and unequivocally reject all forms of Palestinian terrorism. In remarks today to the U.N. Security Council on the Situation in the Middle East, the Secretary General said that while he condemns all forms of Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians “as oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism.”
Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement:
The Secretary General’s apparent justification of Palestinian terrorism, coming only moments after he condemned Palestinian attacks against Israelis, is a highly disturbing and incredibly short sighted statement. There is simply no justification for Palestinian or any other forms of terror. These comments will not only serve to further embolden Palestinians seeking to attack Israeli civilians, but also undermine the global struggle against terrorism by making inappropriate distinctions and rationalizations.
The current wave of Palestinian violence makes no distinction between ‘react[ing] to occupation’ and targeting innocent Israelis going about their daily lives. In recent months, terror attacks have been perpetrated against Israelis walking the streets of Tel Aviv, riding the buses of Jerusalem, and driving in cars across the country. Shlomit Krigman, a 23 year-old Israeli woman, just passed away after being brutally stabbed by Palestinian terrorists while she was visiting her grandparents.
We hope the Secretary General will find an opportunity to clarify his comments and unequivocally reject any and all forms of terrorism, including Palestinian terrorism.