9/10/2012
By Ivan Pereira
The controversial president of Iran is slated to speak at the United Nations General Assembly on Yom Kippur, but city Jewish groups say his words aren’t welcome.
Hindy Poupko, the director of Israel and International Affairs for Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said no matter when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks to the assembly, his words would be considered moot.
“His presence and ideas fly in the face of the values that characterize this great city,” she said.
Ahmadinejad has constantly denied recognizing Israel as a state and has publicly questioned the Holocaust.
Iran180, an Iran protest group, is holding an online petition using the Twitter hashtag #UNwelcome to show solidarity against the president.
