U.S. Jews blast plan for anti-Israel UN official to attend Holocaust prayer service

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will take part Saturday in a prayer service at a Manhattan synagogue to mark "World Holocaust Day".

Local Jewish leaders criticized the fact that President of the United Nations General Assembly Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann plans to take part in the service.

Brockmann has been criticized heavily for a number of anti-Israel statements he has made in the past, including calling Israel an Apartheid state, and saying that Israel is 'crucifying the Palestinians', a statement that was widely taken to be anti-Semitic and not just anti-Israel.

Brockmann also accused Israel of committing 'Genocide' during the recent IDF operations in Gaza.

The UN has so far not responded to calls for Brockmann not to attend, saying only that Ban was expected to be present at the prayer service.