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Last update - 02:35 16/05/2008
Israel protests UN chief Ban Ki-Moon's use of term 'nakba'
By Rotem Sela, TheMarker Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Facing Tomorrow, Tzipi Livni 

The Israeli mission to the United Nations is seeking clarifications after an official communique released by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's bureau made specific reference to the word "nakba," according to a report broadcast on Israel Radio early Friday morning.

The report said the UN chief telephoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to express his solidarity with the Palestinians on the day they mark the "nakba," the Arabic word meaning "catastrophe" that is used in reference to the founding of the state of Israel.

Danny Carmon, Israel's deputy ambassador to the UN, told Israel Radio that the term "'nakba' is a tool of Arab propaganda used to undermine the legitimacy of the establishment of the State of Israel, and it must not be part of the lexicon of the UN."
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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday said that the Palestinians will be able to celebrate their independence day on the same day that the word "nakba" or catastrophe is erased from their lexicon. Livni was referring to the Palestinians' "Nakba Day" which is commemorated on May 15, the day Israel was founded in 1948.

Speaking at the closing panel of the "Facing Tomorrow" presidential conference in Jerusalem, Livni said that Israel needs a constitution, and stressed that since Israel views itself as a Jewish democratic state, it must take into account that it will have to relinquish territories. However, she said, land will only be handed over after the Palestinians change their stance.

"Deciding on fixed borders is important, but not enough; before we draw up a border we must decide what will be on the other side of it," she said.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak also addressed the crowd in Jerusalem, saying that "there is no future for a nation that doesn't know its past."

After giving an overview of the history of the state of Israel, Barak said that of all the events that Israel has experienced, the one thing that he remembers most is the day that he met Ronny, the female fighter pilot from Kibbutz Lohamei HaGetaot, who symbolized for him the long way the Jewish people had come since the Holocaust. "Ronny flies in circles 30,000 feet over Kibbutz Lohamei HaGetaot, which was established in memory of those who fought in the Holocaust," he said.

Though he called for peace in his address, Barak chose to disparage those who urge immediate peace negotiations with the Palestinians, saying "the saying 'the wolf shall dwell with the lamb' came out of Jerusalem, but in practice, the lamb is replaced every few days."

Opposition leader and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu began his address before the conference with a focus on finance. He said that Israel could turn into an "Israeli tiger" ? referencing the Celtic tiger, a nickname given to Ireland following its rapid financial development since the mid 1990s.

"Israel can enjoy 6-8 percent growth each year over the next decade," the former finance minister said. He emphasized the importance of the reforms that he had instituted during his tenure as finance minister, which, according to him, directly resulted in the financial growth Israel has enjoyed in recent years.

All three speakers chose to emphasize the importance of education in their speeches. Barak said that Israel's only resource was the grey matter between the ears of Israel's younger generation. He added that the only way to achieve security and prosperity was to invest in education.
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  1.   Nobel Prize 21:46  |  Neshan Balian 15/05/08
  2.   who would the Palestinians celebrate when 22:04  |  US person 15/05/08
  3.   Debatable issue... 22:08  |  Esther 15/05/08
  4.   What an arrogant people! 22:29  |  Hadi 15/05/08
  5.   To the Zionists of Israel 22:31  |  Sami the palestinian 15/05/08
  6.   Unbelievable Arrogance! 22:42  |  Rainbow Warrior 15/05/08
  7.   Headline is written backwards 22:46  |  Conference 15/05/08
  8.   Remember the Shoah, but forget Nakba? Livni hypocrisy. 23:00  |  Michael 15/05/08
  9.   errrr.. yes baowss 23:01  |  Ahmed 15/05/08
  10.   To #2 23:05  |  Ari 15/05/08
  11.   May 15, the day Israel was founded in 1948. 23:14  |  Joseph . E 15/05/08
  12.   zibbi livni stop using "holacoust" 23:16  |  Concerned Pali 15/05/08
  13.   Livni`s statement reported backwards! 23:16  |  A.G. 15/05/08
  14.   Arabs Only Have Catastrophes To Celebrate 23:24  |  Mordechai 15/05/08
  15.   Re Conference #5 23:31  |  Esther 15/05/08
  16.   What`s In A Daydream? 23:32  |  Yanatan 15/05/08
  17.   Hadi 23:40  |  Soldier of Above 15/05/08
  18.   #2 23:50  |  Czech Man 15/05/08
  19.   #4 23:53  |  Czech Man 15/05/08
  20.   "the wolf shall dwell with the lamb" Means No More Skulduggery 23:54  |  Joseph . E 15/05/08
  21.   #3 23:56  |  Czech Man 15/05/08
  22.   Error in article! Logic of comments turned around 00:05  |  Avi 16/05/08
  23.   Disgusting 00:05  |  Denise 16/05/08
  24.   To all Arab friends 00:06  |  Otto Rand 16/05/08
  25.   #11 you frogat mintion that god Gave jews the land. 00:25  |  tim 16/05/08
  26.   Haaretz - If AG is correct in post #7 00:32  |  Benny 16/05/08
  27.   Rainbow Warrior there is no such 00:43  |  Fred 16/05/08
  28.   To Soldier(!) of above 00:55  |  Hadi 16/05/08
  29.   Don`t confuse her with facts she already gives away lands 00:56  |  not 1square inch 16/05/08
  30.   Stop whining, start working 01:04  |  Voltaire 16/05/08
  31.   LIVINI,BARAK, BIBI THREE REVISIONISTS 01:14  |  JH 16/05/08
  32.   WHY DIDNT THEY LEAVE 01:15  |  TOBIA 16/05/08
  33.   Tzipi Livni only Israeli politician with depth 01:25  |  Mark B. 16/05/08
  34.   an Arab`s view 01:42  |  AD 16/05/08
  35.   A.G. I hope you are right 01:49  |  Dave Duncan 16/05/08
  36.   Another way of looking at Livni`s statement 02:13  |  Marlene N. 16/05/08
  37.   # 11 Soldier of above 02:23  |  Alan 16/05/08
  38.   Sami 3 02:40  |  Beitcafe 16/05/08
  39.   Naqba and Holocaust 02:42  |  Dovy 16/05/08
  40.   When they Pals stop fantasizing about being anybodys 02:47  |  Sal 16/05/08
  41.   We`re not handing over any of our land. Livni can hand over her l 02:55  |  Chaim 16/05/08
  42.   Joseph E - American Independence 02:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 16/05/08
  43.   7 AG - Thanks for Clarifying 03:03  |  Mark of Lewiston 16/05/08
  44.   when we stop using Nakba? 03:19  |  ahmad abouali 16/05/08
  45.   To the Palestinian Terrorists 03:20  |  Sami the Jew 16/05/08
  46.   Ban Ki-Moon should say what others are saying 03:33  |  Dutch 16/05/08
  47.   BBC reported the Nabka also 03:47  |  paulo2005 16/05/08
  48.   #22 Ahmad 04:04  |  Jabotinsky 16/05/08
  49.   SAMI THE JEW 04:07  |  PAUL FELDMAN 16/05/08
  50.   Mordechai = sounds good to him 04:09  |  wibism 16/05/08
  51.   Why don`t YOU leave? 04:12  |  wibism 16/05/08
  52.   Nakba - Yes, They Are Sorry they Did Not Liquidate the Jews 04:14  |  Tod Zuckerman 16/05/08
  53.   Arabs conquered Israel from the Jews 04:28  |  Ben Kobi 16/05/08
  54.   Throw out terrorists & hijackers who remained after `48 04:32  |  Emes 16/05/08
  55.   un chief 04:34  |  azad 16/05/08
  56.   Ban is a truly humane leader 04:43  |  Jeff 16/05/08
  57.   Denying the nakba if a crime against humanity 04:47  |  John 16/05/08
  58.   big surprise the bbc spews it`s hat once more towards israel 05:06  |  hal tripp 16/05/08
  59.   Just like his mentor.... 05:09  |  Webster 16/05/08
  60.   HOLOCAUST TERM VS NAKBA TERM 05:20  |  indrajaya 16/05/08
  61.   Please stop crying my cousin 05:48  |  Ariel is fed up 16/05/08
  62.   #29 doris cadigan decides what the world needs again 06:08  |  v hardman 16/05/08
  63.   #40.....i`m also fed up 06:12  |  Hans 16/05/08
  64.   Arab Arrgoance: 1, 2, 3, 4.... 06:13  |  Tex 16/05/08
  65.   Arab Arrrogance, Part 2 06:18  |  Tex 16/05/08
  66.   Israel doesn`t get to choose another peoples narrative 06:20  |  BBSNews 16/05/08
  67.   The Perpetual Refugees...A Reality Check 06:26  |  Jaobtinsky 16/05/08
  68.   The Threat 06:27  |  Alan 16/05/08
  69.   Hadi #2 06:32  |  miep 16/05/08
  70.   The Holocaust is used to justify the founding 06:35  |  Mordi 16/05/08
  71.   Nakba. 06:40  |  Maureen Ann 16/05/08
  72.   Israel protests.......Only if I had a dime every time