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Last update - 03:29 21/10/2008
Wiesel: Ahmadinejad UN speech shows world hasn't learned from Holocaust
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Holocaust 

Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel has told Haaretz that the recent speech in the United Nations by Iran's president, who has called for Israel's destruction, shows that the world has learned nothing from the Holocaust.

"Ten years ago, and less, the ruler of a country that announced its aspiration for Israel to be wiped off the map would not have dared appear and speak on the UN's podium," Weisel said.

"The era known as 'the period after Auschwitz' is over," he declared, adding: "If you ask me whether the world has learned something - my answer is no."
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Wiesel, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, was born in 1928 in Romania and survived the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.


In his comments, Wiesel was referring to an address Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered at the international body in late September. Ahmadinejad railed against "Zionist murderers" in the speech and dwelled on what he described as Zionist control of international finance.

Speaking from his Manhattan office, Wiesel also said that his initial belief that "hatred had also been burned [in Auschwitz] along with the Jews" appeared to have been wrong in light of the wickedness and suffering in the world today.

The Nobel laureate has written more than 40 books about his experience as a Holocaust survivor. His first and most important book, "Night," sold over 6 million copies.

The narrative details the Nazis' deportation of Wiesel's family from the northern Romanian town of Sighet to Auschwitz.

In 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his life's work.

Wiesel was also influential in the creation of the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.



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      1.   Why the surprise ? 22:33  |  rich 19/10/08
      2.   The World Has Learned Nothing 22:34  |  Eli 19/10/08
      3.   Mr. Wiesel - Most Jews (including Israelies) Have Not Learned 22:35  |  Tod Zuckerman 19/10/08
      4.   The world 22:38  |  Dani 19/10/08
      5.   Never began 23:16  |  Arie 19/10/08
      6.   Elie Wiesel is right 23:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/10/08
      7.   Shimon Peres Said It All 00:20  |  Yosemite 20/10/08
      8.   Elie Wiesel and Norman Finkelstein 01:15  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/10/08
      9.   Mr. Weisel, Can`t you Understand? 04:18  |  BIG 20/10/08
      10.   What is the answer to Iran`s bestiality then ? 04:27  |  Fortuna Benmayor 20/10/08
      11.   Tod Zuckerman - Re Mr Wiesel... 05:49  |  Fritz 20/10/08
      12.   BIG, nonsense, doesnt even compare 06:24  |  jj 20/10/08
      13.   Holocaust Lesson 02:09  |  Jack 21/10/08
      14.   Fortuna Benmayor 04:40  |  Persian Kitty 21/10/08
      15.   Ahmadinejad UN speech 09:19  |  Hank Shrier 21/10/08
      16.   What Did Israel Learn? 16:00  |  Cool B 21/10/08
      17.   Wiesel Responsible for Jews not Learning 17:57  |  John Isenhower 21/10/08
      18.   Swiss (Dino) 18:33  |  David Israel 21/10/08
      19.   What a nerver to even contest this amazing man 20:32  |  lily 21/10/08
      20.   John Eisenhower (what rubbish here this too is from the Bible 21:25  |  Big Sur 21/10/08
      21.   Answer to #17 John Isenhower 22:36  |  Moshe 21/10/08
      22.   Wiesel has learned nothing either 11:32  |  Edith 22/10/08
      23.   And I have read many books about the fate of ... 11:39  |  Edith 22/10/08
      24.   #6 Cipora JK...how can their be a huge increase 15:33  |  Lynn 22/10/08
      25.   Ahnadinejad UN speech 16:46  |  Ann Hawkins 24/10/08
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