The UN, Zionism and Racism

Israel once honored the United Nations resolution of 1947 which was seen as a victory for the Zionist Movement. But in 1975, led by the Soviet Union and the Arab League, the UN voted to condemn Zionism as a form of racism. It resulted in rallies, protests and the renaming of UN Street to Zionism Street.

Hear the voices of those who defended Zionism as a Jewish liberation movement including:

• Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek, who renamed Rehov HaUm as Rehov HaZionut.

• Israeli Ambassador to the UN Chaim Herzog, who tore up a copy of the resolution in a dramatic speech.

• US Ambassador to the UN Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who defended Israel as a country in which any Jewish person of any ethnic background, including converts can become citizens.

• US President George Bush, who initiated rescinding the resolution in 1991.

• News reels from the 1947 UN Palestine Partition Plan

Jewish women at Zionist demonstration, New York, November 11, 1975. Credit: Bettye Lane.

Zionism Street sign, Kiryat Yovel neighborhood, Jerusalem. Credit: Ben Bresky, 2023

Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek removes the UN Street sign and replaces it with a Zionism Street sign. Credit: British Pathe, December 2, 1975.

Thousands demonstrating against the UN Resolution 3379 condemning the Zionist Movement, Haifa, November 16, 1975. Credit: Paul Meling, National Library of Israel.

NOTES:

• Huge Rally Here Condemns U.N. Anti‐Zionism Move - New York Times, 1975

• UNITED NATIONS: Shock Waves from an Infamous Act - Time Magazine, 1975

• U.N. Rescinds Its Zionism Censure - LA Times, 1991

• Fighting the ‘Zionism is Racism’ Lie: Moynihan’s Historic U.N. Speech

• Chaim Herzog Speech to the UN on ‘Zionism is Racism’ - UN Watch

• UN Honored with United Nations Street sign, 1951 - JTA

• Teddy Kollek removes UN Street sign in Jerusalem, 1975 - British Pathe

• The 1975 “Zionism Is Racism” Resolution: The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of a Libel - Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs

• President Bush Calls for Repeal of UN 'Zionism is Racism' Resolution, 1991

• UN vote on Palestine Partition, 1947 - British Pathe