Statement by Benjamin Zagzag, chairman of the European Union of Jewish Students, to the UN Human Rights Council (27 September 2010):
Madam President,
It is on behalf of the European Union of Jewish Students, an umbrella organization of 34 national Jewish student unions from across Europe representing around 200, 000 Jewish Students that I am speaking here today. As a representative of EUJS I will not join in the singling out of the Jewish State and blaming it for all the ills and problems in the Middle East as has been the practice of this UN organ since its inception. Instead I would like to emphasize the ramification of this practice of singling out the only Jewish state in the world, as the sole human rights violator in the Middle East for European Jews. An equal treatment of Israel and the rest of the countries should be the case in this council.
As a European, I fail to understand why the international community continues to focus solely on the Human rights situation of Palestinians affected by Israel, yet it turns a blind eye to the Human rights situation of Palestinians in Arab countries in the region or the violation of human rights carried out by Hamas organization.
Throughout the history of Europe, the Jews have been falsely attacked as a root cause of troubles and were used as an easy scapegoat to blame. Today, it seems obvious that Israel, the only Jewish State in the World, is used as the scapegoat for many countries to divert the attention from their human rights violation against their own people and against the Palestinians living among them.
Madam President, notice that the most outspoken countries who criticize the Jewish state are the ones with the poorest human rights records in the world. What action has this council undertaken with regards to the Human Rights situation in Iran for example? Nothing.
This international trend, to single out the Jewish state has a direct effect on the daily life of European Jewish citizens and students.
Have you ever seen the amount of armed security needed to secure a Jewish event, be it of religious or cultural nature? Why is it that the Jews are the only religious group who needs armed security to manifest their faith in Europe, especially in France, the country I am from?
As a Jewish French citizen, my family and my community are put at risk in their daily life and are targeted by extremists who take the Middle East situation as a pretext. Yet, this linkage is accepted by many who also equally accept attacks by Hamas on Jewish civilian population in Israel as justified and this council keeps silent about it.
Are the human rights of Jews of lesser importance to the international community? Are human rights not equal for all human beings?
