Shalom all,

The number of IDF deaths since the beginning of the ground offensive has now reached 217. The total number of IDF deaths since October 7th stands at 552.

“The willingness of the world, including many of the educated elites in the West to dismiss the importance of the crimes perpetrated in southern Israel three months ago, to be effectively neutral about the murders, rapes, torture and kidnapping committed by Hamas and the Palestinians—or actually to take the side of the murderers, rapists, torturers and kidnappers—isn’t just shocking. It’s a seminal moment in modern history that not only illustrates the moral bankruptcy of a significant segment of contemporary opinion but also provides an explanation for how the Holocaust happened. As hard as it may be for us to accept, this demonstrates that Holocaust commemorations or even education programs about the destruction of European Jewry in the mid-20th century either don’t make people less likely to support more Holocausts; even worse, all this might be counterproductive.”

Today, January 27th, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, that was declared by  Resolution 60/7, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on November 1, 2005. The Preamble to the Resolution, and Articles 1, 3 and 5, state: 

“Reaffirming that the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities, will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice…

“1.   Resolves that the United Nations will designate 27 January “as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust…. 

“3.    Rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an historical event, either in full or in part;…

“5.   Condemns without reserve all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, wherever they occur.” (Italics in original)

In its 85th plenary meeting, held on January 26, 2007, the U.N. General Assembly adopted Resolution 61/255 Holocaust denial, which reaffirmed its above Resolution of 1 November, 2005, and declared, that the U.N.:

“1.   Condemns without any reservation any denial of the Holocaust;

“2.   Urges all Member States unreservedly to reject any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, or any activities to this end.”  (Italics in original)

Apparently, the politicos in the U.N. came to understand that their prior Resolutions were like clouds without water, the General Assembly, 20 January, 2022, adopted a second Resolution dealing with Holocaust denial (Resolution 76/250). Its lengthy Preamble stated, in part: 

“Bearing in mind that the founding principle of the Charter of the United Nations, ‘to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war’, is testimony to the indelible link between the United Nations and the unique tragedy of the Second World War,

“Recalling the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind,…

“Deeply concerned about the prevalence of impunity in some instances, and the lack of accountability in some cases, in addressing violence against persons on the basis of religion or belief in public and private spheres, and stressing the importance of making the necessary efforts to raise awareness to address the spread of hate speech against persons on the basis of religion or belief,…

“Noting that Holocaust denial refers to discourse and propaganda that deny the historical reality and the exstent of the extermination of the Jews by the Nazis and their accomplices during the Second World War, known as the Holocaust or Shoah,

“Noting also that Holocaust denial refers specifically to any attempt to claim that the Holocaust did not take place, and may include publicly denying or calling into doubt the use of principal mechanisms of destruction (such as gas chambers, mass shooting, starvation, and torture) or the intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people

“Bearing in mind that Holocaust denial in its various forms is an expression of antisemitism,”Noting that distortion and/or denial of the Holocaust refers, inter alia, to:       

“(a)  Intentional efforts to excuse or minimize the impact of the Holocaust or its principal elements, including collaborators and allies of Nazi Germany,       

“(b)  Gross minimization of the number of the victims of the Holocaust in contradiction to reliable sources,     

“(c)  Attempts to blame the Jews for causing their own genocide,     

“(d)  Statements that cast the Holocaust as a positive historical event,       

“(e)  Attempts to blur the responsibility for the establishment of concentration and death camps devised and operated by Nazi Germany by putting blame on other nations or ethnic groups,…

“Noting with concern the growing prevalence of Holocaust denial or distortion through the use of information and communications technologies,…       

“1.   Rejects and condemns without any reservation any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part:       

“2.  Urges all Member States to reject without any reservation any denial or distortion of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in fujll or in part, or any activities to this end;…        

“5.  Urges Member States and social media companies to take active measures to combat antisemitism and Holocaust denied or distortion by means of information and communications technologies and to facilitate reporting of such content….”

Reading the above Resolutions of the U.N. and taking into account the events leading up to, including and following the massacre that took place on 7th October, one would have to seriously question whether the U.N. serves any socially-redeeming value, particularly when it comes to issues relating to Israel. Only two weeks before the murderous onslaught of Hamas and other terrorist organizations and groups, the head of the present “Palestinian” Authority – an outspoken Holocaust denier – was allowed to address the General Assembly of the United Nations, where he accused Israel of every wrongdoing and demanding that the U.N. upgrade the status of the P.A. from an observer state and recognize “Palestine” as a member state. Even the recognized leftist-leaning Israeli news site entitled one of its articles: “Mahmoud Abbas: Once an Antisemitic Holocaust Denier, Always an Antisemitic Holocaust Denier”. 

In his Statement yesterday, Friday, regarding International Holocaust Remembrance Day, President Joe Biden, said, in part: “This year, the charge to remember the Holocaust, the evil of the Nazis, and the scourge of antisemitism is more pressing than ever. On October 7 Hamas terrorists unleashed pure, unadulterated evil on the people of Israel, slaughtering approximately 1,200 innocent people and taking hundreds more hostage – including survivors of the Shoah.  It was the worst atrocity committed against the Jewish people in a single day since the Holocaust. In the aftermath of Hamas’s vicious massacre, we have witnessed an alarming rise of despicable antisemitism at home and abroad that has surfaced painful scars from millennia of hate and genocide of Jewish people. It is unacceptable. We cannot remember all that Jewish survivors of the Holocaust experienced and then stand silently by when Jews are attacked and targeted again today. Without equivocation or exception, we must also forcefully push back against attempts to ignore, deny, distort, and revise history. This includes Holocaust denialism and efforts to minimize the horrors that Hamas perpetrated on October 7, especially its appalling and unforgiveable use of rape and sexual violence to terrorize victims.” 

The realities of the Holocaust are undeniable, yet many, like the head of the so-called “Palestinian” Authority, continue to deny them, pervert facts and attempt to justify why it happened, even blaming the Jewish people for causing their own Holocaust. All this is in blatant violation and total disregard of the Resolutions that have been passed by the U.N. General Assembly. Realistically, the “Palestinian” Authority and Hamas may be at odds with one another for hegemony over the residents in their respective areas. But, they both have the same ultimate goal, namely, the elimination of the State of Israel.

Yesterday, at a Holocaust Memorial Ceremony, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stated, in his opening remarks: “We have seen an outburst of antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry around the world. Every one of us must resolve to stand up against the forces of hate, discrimination and division.” At the same event, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, pointed out the hypocrisy of the U.N.’s proclamations in the light of its behavior – or better yet, lack of behavior, as he stated:“Today is not only a day of remembrance; this day was designated to also prevent future acts of genocide — to internalize the lessons of the Holocaust…To this day, no U.N. institution has condemned the October 7 massacre. It’s shocking.”  And, as survivors of the Holocaust and October 7th testified on the floor of the U.N. before 100 ambassadors from countries all over the world, Ambassador Erdan added:“110 days ago, the Jewish people underwent the most brutal massacre since the Holocaust. Hamas terrorists murdered and burned families alive, shot at revelers at a music festival – it was a genocide. This murder is part of the radical Islam’s plan to annihilate the Jewish people…When I stand here and expose the lies against Israel at the UN, I always remember that the ambassador of Babylon no longer exists and the flag of the Roman Empire no longer waves. What still exists? A flag with the Star of David symbol. We are still here.”  (my emphasis)

Most of the member states of the U.N. are pushing for a “two-state solution” to the ongoing conflict between Israel and various terror-based groups that refer to themselves as “Palestinians”. Even the U.S. is pushing hard in this regard, while claiming to back Israel’s right to defend itself. The reality is that allowing such a “Palestinian” state to exist would necessitate redefining Israel’s borders, slice Israel in half to allow a contiguous area for that state to exist, further allowing more home-grown terrorist organizations to crop up and threatening the existence of the State of Israel. But, following the events of 7th October, the Hamas terrorists’ leadership dismissed any desire of reaching a solution with Israel, particularly a two-state solution (even if that possibility were to exist). In an interview with a Kuwaiti podcaster last week, Senior Hamas official Khaled Mashaal, said that there is “nearly a consensus” within the “Palestinian” community, they will not give up their dream of land stretching “from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea” – in other words, the so-called “West Bank” (Judea and Samaria), the Gaza Strip and all of Israel. In order to make that dream a reality, they need to eliminate the State of Israel.

So, why is it that there is no condemnation from the U.N. about a specific intention to commit genocide against the Jewish people? Why doesn’t a member state file a petition with the International Court of Justice against Hamas? Simply, because Hamas is not a “state”, neither is the “Palestinian” Authority. As Ambassador Erdan noted: “To this day, no U.N. institution has condemned the October 7 massacre.“

For Holocaust Remembrance Day to have any significance outside of Israel, there needs to be active participation by the international community. Governments need to do more than just talk. They need to take action against calling for another Holocaust against Israel, as well as to deal with those who deny the Holocaust in line with the U.N. Resolutions mentioned. If not, then the Resolutions are not worth the paper they’re written on.

Whether or not countries put action behind their words regarding Holocaust remembrance, the words of Ambassador Erdan will continue to ring true: “[The] ambassador of Babylon no longer exists and the flag of the Roman Empire no longer waves. What still exists? A flag with the Star of David symbol. We are still here.”  Yes, we are still here – Hamas or no Hamas, Hezbollah or no Hezbollah. Iran or no Iran, Houthi shmouthi. We’re not planning to go anywhere. The U.N. will cease to exist before Israel does.

“This is what the Lord says, He who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord of armies is His name: ‘If this fixed order departs from Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘then the descendants of Israel also will cease to be a nation before Me forever.’ This is what the Lord says: ‘If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also reject all the descendants of Israel’.” (Jeremiah 31:35-37).

The Dry Bones Blog – 26 January, 2024

Have a healthy and God-honoring week.

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.
Marvin