Topic: Combating the Rise of Xenophobic Violence
Country: Israel
Delegate Name: Kody Ware
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Israel position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
In June 1977 The Israeli ship Yuvali rescues Vietnamese war refugees lost at sea. Prime Minister Menachem Begin, a terrifying rightist at the time, makes his first decision as leader to bring the refugees to Israel and naturalize them. In their wake, two more groups of refugees are brought here. Begin remembered then what has been forgotten today that we are Holocaust refugees and the rest is history one of racism and growing xenophobia across Israel.
For years Israel has had a history of racism and violence against Palestinians, Africans and even Russians Israel was a state created for Jewish refugees but has turned into a xenophobic state where no person who is a different race or religion may be safe. Xenophobia is defined as deep-rooted antipathy towards foreigners, unreasonable fear or hatred of the unfamiliar, especially people of other races. The hatred has to stop The Universal Declaration of human rights states that: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.” It also says that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” The United Nations must stand together to prevent these xenophobic actions from happening.
