Israel urges UN to denounce Ahmadinejad comments
By The Associated Press
Israel urged all UN member states to denounce and reject Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's renewed call for the destruction of the state of Israel.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Israel's UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman said Monday that "the lack of formal protest by the international community undermines stability in the region and international peace and security."
Gillerman called Ahmadinejad's latest comments a violation of the UN Charter and an incitement to genocide and racism.
Israel considers Iran to be the greatest threat to its survival, and rejects Tehran's claim that its nuclear program is peaceful. Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called Israel's destruction, and Iran already has missiles capable of carrying payloads to Israel.
Gillerman said he wanted to protest "yet another litany of highly appalling and offensive statements" made by the Iranian president last week publicly calling for the destruction of Israel. He cited Ahmadinejad's statements, quoted by the Iranian News Agency, saying "the Zionist regime is doomed," "this regime is destined to end and it has no purpose," and "under current conditions, this regime does not have the strength to survive at all."
Gillerman said it was inconceivable that in the 21st century, 61 years after the Holocaust, a UN member state would openly call for the annihilation of another state. "Every member state must, on account of its membership in the United Nations, denounce and reject these hateful words," he said.
Gillerman complained that by allowing Ahmadinejad to speak at the UN General Assembly's ministerial meeting last month, "the interntional community has bestowed upon him an aura of legitimacy."
"Hence, it is incumbent upon the international community to protest this incitement to genocide and explicit racism," he said. "Further silence on this matter contradicts the foundations of the UN Charter and spirit of purpose of this organization."
Gillerman told Annan that similar letters of protest had been sent to the presidents of the Security Council and to the General Assembly.
Israel urges UN to denounce Ahmadinejad comments
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