Danon to fight UN’s lack of condemnation with pictures

Israel plans to fight the United Nation’s failure to condemn the Barkan terror attack by placing photographs of the two victims along with memorial candles at the organization’s headquarters in New York.

“The United Nations has not spoken out against the cruel murder, but we will continue to remember and remind the world of the lives that were cut short and of the hatred and incitement,” Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said on Tuesday.

To date, seven civilians and two soldiers have been killed in terror attacks this year. Five of the attacks occurred in the West Bank, while one was in Jerusalem’s Old City, according to Foreign Ministry reports.

Typically, the United States and the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process are among the first to condemn such attacks. Europe is much slower to respond.

However, Sunday’s attack, which took the lives of 35-yearold Ziv Hajbi and 28-year-old Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel, drew a fairly quick response from the US and Europe with the United Nations failing to respond.

Those who commented noted that the attack took place at the Barkan Industrial Park, which is often touted as an oasis of coexistence, where both Israelis and Palestinians work together.

European Union Ambassador Emanuele Giaufret tweeted: “My condolences to the families of the victims. May the perpetrator be brought to justice. Violence can never be condoned.”

The French Embassy in Israel said that it “fully condemned the attack,” with the Italian Embassy stating there is “no justification for such brutal aggression.” Austrian Ambassador Martin Weiss said he visited a West Bank industrial park and “was truly impressed by their spirit of co-existence and cooperation.” He added, “terror attacks are so cowardly and so destructive.”

German Ambassador Susanne Wasum-Rainer tweeted, “I am shocked by the brutal attack in [the] Barkan complex. I strongly condemn this act of violence. My heart is with the families of the victims.”

Italian member of the European Parliament Fulvio Martusciello, who chairs the organization’s Delegation for Relations with Israel stated: “I met with the people of Barkan, as well as chair[man] of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan in Brussels in the European Parliament. This attack cannot interfere with the task of bringing Jews and Arabs together. We condemn this attack in the strongest terms. We will keep supporting the people on the ground [who are] seeking peace.”

Danon also wrote a letter to the UN Security Council asking that it condemned the attack, demanding that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas halt payments to terrorists and their families.

“Instead of dictating to Israel and ignoring proposals to bring calm to the region, Abbas must take a clear and firm stance against terrorism and incitement, including the paying of terrorists and their families for killing innocent Israelis. This financial incentive only fuels further violence, just like what we saw at the Barkan plant. Only [by] stopping the system of incitement and rewards can [we] put an end to terror,” he wrote.

“The members of the Security Council must issue a clear condemnation of this murderous terror attack. It is your responsibility and duty to the Middle East and to the world, and most importantly, to the children of Kim and Ziv who have lost a parent,” Danon stated.