“The Holocaust was the greatest catastrophe in the history of our people and of all humanity. But precisely from the unimaginable wreckage arose a voice that resonated throughout the entire family of nations. A voice that called for repair, healing, and building together. A voice that led both to the establishment of the United Nations and international courts; and to the establishment of the State of Israel – an act supported by the family of nations and while doing historical justice,” Herzog said.

The post-World War II feeling in establishing the UN and its institutions came from what Herzog called, “A deep faith and hope that international institutions would forever be committed to preventing these heinous crimes from happening again – to Jews or any other people, and would be committed to justice – for the sake of all humanity.”

Said Herzog, “But this moral beacon has been eroded time and again. I remember such a moral low point in November 1975, when the UN General Assembly despicably declared the national movement of the Jewish people – Zionism – a form of racism.” Herzog noted that resolution 3379 was passed on the anniversary of Germany’s Kristallnacht pogrom and not revoked until 1991.