I'll never understand the hatred that killed my daughter

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Israelis Arnold Roth and Danny Carmon described their experiences as terror victims to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

Roth, whose 15-year-old daughter Malki was killed in the suicide bombing at Jerusalem's Sbarro restaurant in August 2001, told the conference he never imagined to himself he would get the opportunity to speak on such a stage.

He spoke about the attack, describing how the terrorist entered the restaurant with a guitar to disguise himself as a musician. Nobody would have thought this was a man filled with such a religious passion to kill and main, Roth told the conference.

We will never understand the hatred and cruel intolerance that took away her smile, he said.

Roth was one of 18 people from different countries brought to testify at the day-long symposium on victims of terrorism at UN headquarters in New York. The special conference was initiated by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and included the participation of terror victims, experts on terrorism and senior authorities in the field of social aid.

In his opening remarks, Ban called for an open dialogue to share experiences and practices, and said the symposium would advance the UN's global strategy in the fight against terror. He said this would help "strengthen the international community's solidarity with victims and improve understanding of how the UN and member states could support them"; however, he offered no specific ideas.

Daniel Carmon, the deputy Israeli ambassador to the UN, revealed his own personal story to the other ambassadors, who were unaware of his tragedy. In 1992, Carmon lost his wife Eliora in the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which killed 29; Carmon was also injured. He relayed how he was left alone to raise their five young children, aged 2 to 12.

Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt gave the forum's keynote address: "Access to information is strategic," she said. "Too many totalitarian states hide the reality of victims of terrorism in their country in order not to be accountable for them to the world."

Betancourt was abducted by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, during her 2002 presidential campaign. She was rescued two months ago, after six years of captivity in the jungle. Other speakers included survivors of the World Trade Center and London Underground attacks.

Senior officials at the UN have revealed that the Palestinian Authority requested to include victims of Israeli Defense Forces operations, but the request was turned down.

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halacha hi beyadua she Esav sone leYaacov It is a well known law that Esav hates Yaacov Rashi in Parshat Vayishlach

Posted by ella on 2008-09-12 05:55:37 GMT

Some people may never understand the "hatred and cruel intolerance" of our enemies, but most rational people should have no trouble doing so. It is inherent in our enemy's belief system,educational system, and culture. Ultimately, the reason for their hatred will be irrelevant - all that is really relevant is how we will respond to it and defeat them.

Posted on 2008-09-11 20:13:01 GMT

Like previous commentators, I find the symposium to be an encouraging symbol. I will start to feel hopeful when the two secretariats devoted to the "Palestinians" are abolished and when the conference of Islamic nations and the mock socialist looney tune left, abandons its demand for our sympathy for the cruel aggressors hiding in victims' clothes.

Posted by paul2 on 2008-09-10 14:23:26 GMT

Victims of Palestinian terrorists get to have a say at the UN...one small step...now the UN should be held accountable for singling out one country and one country only for opprobrium...Israel...whenever it takes steps to protect its citizens from terrorism..I fear it is just giving lip service to caring a damn about our victims!

Posted by Ronit on 2008-09-10 07:46:29 GMT

What is abhorrent is the left wing Academics {including Jews] ,so called Human rights lawyers and activists, journalists and authors that support and justify Islamic terror violence,death, destruction , mayhem , no wonder the Muslims keep on doing it whether against Jews , Christians ,Hindus and Buddhists or as we see on a daily basis in the Palestinian terror-tories, Iraq, Pakistan . Only when the left stop their support and justification will the Muslims get the message violence even against their woman and them selves is not acceptable...how ever we shouldn't hold our breathe I think the culture of left wing hatred towards America ,Israel,Zionists and and in many cases Jews is too far ingrained.

Posted by Faygale on 2008-09-10 06:11:40 GMT

I am very pleased that the survivors of terror attacks and surviving family members of those killed by terrorists have been given a forum and a voice. These same terrorists who are glorified by many of their countrymen. Is it a portend of changing atmosphere in the UN that the ever whinging self promoting "victims", the palestinian arabs were not granted participation. As far as I am concerned that have had more than enough exposure for their claims of Israeli terror. Their penchant for projecting all their own excesses of violence and bestiality onto others is well known.

Posted by Franita on 2008-09-10 05:00:35 GMT

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I'll never understand the hatred that killed my daughter

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