U.N. Interpreter Who Criticized Anti-Israel Resolutions Gets Job Offer — From Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there will always be a job waiting in Israel for a United Nations interpreter caught wondering aloud at an excessive number of anti-Israel resolutions while her microphone was still on.
Netanyahu played a video recording of the incident during Sunday’s regular Cabinet meeting and called the unidentified interpreter “brave.”
The interpreter’s remarks came during the Nov. 14 meeting of the United Nations General Assembly’s Fourth Assembly, attended by representatives of all 193 United Nations member states. Nine of the 10 resolutions adopted at the meeting condemned Israel.
“I mean I think when you have five statements, not five, but like a total of 10 resolutions on Israel and Palestine, there’s gotta be something, c’est un peu trop, non? [It’s a bit much, no?] I mean I know, yes, yes, but there’s other really bad shit happening, but no one says anything about the other stuff,” the interpreter said in English in remarks heard live by the delegates.
Amid titters of laughter from the delegates, the committee secretary states, “I understand there was a problem with the interpretation.”
“Interpreter apologies,” the interpreter then says,
“I would like to tell this interpreter that she has a job waiting for her in the State of Israel. There are moments that tear the hypocrisy off the unending attacks against us and this brave interpreter did so,” Netanyahu said.
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
