New York  - The World Jewish Congress on Wednesday lodged a rare protest to the UN General Assembly president for disparaging Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people.

Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann had likened Israel's policy toward the Palestinians to "the apartheid of an earlier era." He also called for punitive measures against the Jewish state, including divestment and sanctions.

D'Escoto Brockmann said this week on the international day to support the inalienable rights of the Palestinians that the biggest failure of the UN had been not to establish a Palestinian state after 60 years.

New York-based WJC President Ronald Lauder said the UN official's statement was "false and without basis."

"Israel has served as an ingathering of many people of all colours and races whose citizens are granted equal rights," Lauder said. "Not for the first time, the UN is applying different standards for Israel and the Jewish people than it does for other countries."

D'Escoto Brockmann, a former Maryknoll Catholic priest, was selected by Latin and Central American governments to preside over the 63rd session of the assembly. He has called for the democratization of the United Nations and for ending the domination of powerful Western nations on the world body. He also denounced international institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank for worsening living conditions in poor countries. (dpa)