"A Reckless Act"

"The United Nations is at the point of officially endorsing anti-Semitism," warned U.S. Ambassador Daniel P. Moynihan. "It is a reckless act, an obscene act." Moynihan's anger was directed at an Arab-inspired draft resolution that condemns Zionism as "a form of racism and racial discrimination," meaning the existence of Israel as a Jewish state. After vitriolic debate, the resolution was adopted late last week by the U.N. General Assembly's Social Committee, 70 to 29, with 27 abstentions. Supporting the measure were the Arab and Communist blocs and some African countries; the U.S. and Western Europe led the opposition.

Although the resolution could later be rejected by the General Assembly, the U.S. fears the action may create new antagonisms between the Western powers and the Third World majority at the U.N. Among the most immediate losers in the proceedings were the black Africans, who had been seeking support for the U.N.'s Decade for Action to Combat Racism, a worldwide offensive against apartheid in southern Africa. Now the Western powers are threatening to withdraw their support.

Some moderate Africans and Caribbean envoys tried to disentangle their cause from the anti-Israel clause. "To be born black is to understand what racism means," said Barbados Ambassador Waldo Waldron-Ramsey, who pleaded with the Arabs to withdraw their resolution. Of 36 black African nations, only 16 supported the measure. There were hopes that African support might further dwindle before the General Assembly vote. If not, warned U.S. Delegate Leonard Garment, "the work of the U.N. is in jeopardy."

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