Israel urges UN to denounce Ahmadinejad's comments

[Behind the Aegis]

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.

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[TomInTib]

1. Who gives any weight to Ahmadinejad?

The guy has about as much power as your local Superintendent of your School Board.

It's the clerics and their people who make policy.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. It's not about policy making.

It is about incitement to action. So, in that respect, he does wield more power than a local "Superintendent (for a) School Board."

[Chulanowa]

4. So what you're saying is...

Israel is doing good by pressing for the UN to step in and "denounce" Ahmedinejad... which, you and I both know, will only make him louder and louder? How much "good" will Israel do before it declares it has an excuse to launch a few missiles, based on the idiotic rhetoric of a guy who's job amounts to mouthing off and cutting ribbons at grand openings of Tehran-Mart?

[Behind the Aegis]

5. So what you are saying is...

...they should do nothing and just let him spew genocidal/ethnic cleansing remarks? How much "good" will come if Iran develops nukes and makes good on their 'promises?' So what you are saying is that because he has so little power, but all the press, he should just keep ranting about the destruction of Israel?

On edit: Structural issue

[atreides1]

6. Some would call it free speech

"he should just keep ranting about the destruction of Israel?"

Right now it's rhetoric, later on down the line it could become reality, but I can't predict the future and neither can anyone else. By paying attention to anything he has to say, is what gives him a sense of power.

Keep watching him and the real power, the Ayatollahs, as long as they know that eyes are upon them they'll just keep talking. If the time comes that Israel feels that it has to attack to protect itself, then Israel needs to make sure that it was the right call, based on preservation of the Israeli people, not because they didn't like what this man was saying.

[Chulanowa]

15. As opposed to what?

Loading sanctions onto the country, perhaps? That worked so well to undermine the authority of Saddam and Kim Jong Il, didn't it? I know, we could launch attacks against Iran for daring to elect a guy with a big mouth and no brains - After all, gunning down whoever dislikes Israel has done so much to bring peace to the country, right?

Th dude thrives off of reaction. Whatever you do will reinforce everything he says to his people and set the population further against Israel and the western world in response - especially if the UN were to undertake it's usual "crush the people to punish hte dictator" reponse. You want Ahmedinejad to shut the fuck up? Stop making threats back every time he opens his mouth. It's like two kids arguing in the back of a car.

Israel: "DAAAAAAAD, Ahmedinejad said he's gonna hit me!"
Ahmedinejad: "Did not!"
Israel: "Did too, I heard you!"
Ahmedinejad: "Nuh uh!"
Israel: "Yuh huh!"
Ahmedinejad: "Nuh UHHHHHH!"
Israel: "Yes you did!"
Ahmedinejad: "Big nose!"
Israel: "Camelhumper!"
UN: "Do NOT make me turn this car around! *Reaches back to flail around blindly with the UN smack-hand*"

If you let him rant and just laugh at what an idiot he is, that takes power from his words, like the self-centered knuckleheaded child that he is.

And again, since you don't seem to grasp Iranian politcal structure well at all, Ahmedinejad has no control over any aspect of the military. If he did, then I could se where there might be cuase for worry. But he doesn't and the guys who do have made it pretty clear that they're not interested in picking a fight with anyone, and have no interest in nuclear weapons.

But of course, Israel's the only country on earth that doesn't lie when it goes "Nukes? What nukes? We don't have any nukes!"

[Behind the Aegis]

20. How's about, for once, the UN reprimand a country other than Israel?

They could give it a whirl. I don't think they have to employ sanctions, but they could issue one of those harshly worded UNSC resolutions they are so famous for throwing at Israel.

FWIW, I do understand the Iranian political structure. It is not about his having power, it is about his calling for the destruction of a sovereign nation! It would be NO different if a US Senator was doing the same thing...all over the airwaves calling for the "removal of the cancerous Mexico" and their existence is not long for this world. There would be outrage all over the world.

As for your strawman, Israel has neither confirmed or denied its possession of nukes. And, that should have no bearing on their ability to lodge complaints to the UN.

[Chulanowa]

34. Here's the thing...

Israel does stuff that demands a reprimand. This is totally different from saying stuff. Can you catch my drift? You made a note of how effective these reprimands are, anyway - Oh noes, the UN is shaking their finger. So, what's the point of demanding a reprimand in the first place? Oh, right, Israel, having been reprimanded for doing stuff, on a national level, wants the UN to reprimand Iran for i]saying stuff on a local level.

Look carefully at the crap Ahmedinejad has spewed - "Israel will be wiped off the map" is, in actuality, quite a different thing than saying "I'm going to throw a nuke up your keister". It's the difference between saying to someone "You're going to die someday" and saying "I'm going to kill you as soon as I find a gun." Either way, you're being a jackass. However, in both cases the first statement is a statement of fact, while the second is a threat.

Israel will cease to be as a nation. its existance as Israel hinges entirely on it beign a jewish nation. Is an Arab Muslim Israel still "Israel"? Nope. But that's exactly what it'll become in the next 30 years, through sheer demographics.

And you're absolutely right, there would be outrage all over the world. But no UN nanny-finger shaking at the United States. Instead there would be a bunch of bitchy people running their mouths on TV and in hte papers about how much America sucks and should be reprimanded... You know, exactly like what's going on with Iran?

No, but it does have bearing on your incessant goings-on about how damn much Iran wants to nuke Israel, and how their many and frequent statements otherwise are ignored or called lies...

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[NaturalHigh]

8. Like that's going to happen.

No way the UN will take Israel's side in anything.

[Tempest]

9. Will the U.N. denounce Israel's inflamatory comments as well?

Neither side can claim the high ground when it comes to the rhetoric.

[Boston Critic]

10. Just imagine...

If Israel was making statements like this about Iran or about the Palestinians.

The hypocrisy exhibited by those who couldn't care less about this but are always quick to criticize Israel (like the disgraceful Secretary General Kofi Annan)is breathtaking.

[High Plains]

11. Why should the UN listen to anything Israel says?

How many UN resolutions is Israel currently violating?

And how's that uninspected nuclear weapons program going?

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Isn't that their job?

How many other nations are currently violating UN resolutions? Do you know? Should those countries also not have a voice?

"And how's that uninspected nuclear weapons program going?" You are aware that Israel has not signed the NPT, yes?

I find it completely hypocritical that people bitch about everything that Israel does or doesn't do! If they go to the UN, then why should they be listened to? If they defend their country, why didn't they go to the UN for sanctions and mediation?

Given the immense anti-Israeli bias at the UN, I don't see anything coming to fruition.

[hogwyld]

25. Despite what you may believe

Israel is not the lilly white beacon of virtue. They have done a LOT of nasty things that they have yet to address. Maybe they should clean up their own house. Remember the parable about stones and glass houses...

[Behind the Aegis]

28. Do not presume to know what I do or don't believe.

Just because they are not a beacon of virtue, doesn't mean they are not allowed to utilize the UN. A drunk driver has violated the law, but that doesn't mean you can burn down their house, then expect to get away with it because they have drunk driving charges.

[Boston Critic]

13. Why should Israel listen to anything the UN says?

That's much more to the point.

How many resolutions has the UN passed against the occupation of Tibet? The genocide in Darfur? The subjugation of women in Saudi Arabia?

If you believe the UN, Israel defending itself is the single most important problem on the face of the planet.

No wonder the UN has so little credibility.

[Nolo_Contendre]

23. Israel hasn't abided by a UN resolution since the Partition in 1948

Why should they start now?

[Behind the Aegis]

27. Untrue. Not even hyperbole, just untrue.

[Nolo_Contendre]

29. I know, Israel can do no wrong

can it.

[Name removed]

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[Behind the Aegis]

36. That's clearly what was said.

:eyes:

[geek tragedy]

14. Maybe Gillerman should denounce the newest member

of the coalition government in Israel, who's every bit as evil, racist, and fascist as Offhismeds.

[IndianaGreen]

16. On what moral grounds can Israel demand anything?

Israel just admitted to using phophorus shells and bombs in its bombardment of Lebanon. As far as I am concerned, Israel lost what little moral standing it had left!

This spat between Israel and Iran is as pathetic as watching Bush accuse Kim Jong Il of being a tyrant!

[Behind the Aegis]

19. Israel is not "demanding" anything.

They are presenting their concerns to the UN body. I find it interesting so many here are ready to condemn Israel for everything, even when they follow the rules, by engaging the use of the UN as mediator.

[hogwyld]

24. And just how many rules has Israel broken?

One problem is that Israel demands UN action for it's issues, and when the UN demands that Israel abide by UN resolutions, the country gives a big, fat, wet, raspberry to the UNSC as well as the GA. Israel needs to comply with ALL of it's outstanding resolutions against it before they should have their grievances addressed.

[Behind the Aegis]

30. How many other countries are in the same "boat?"

Do you know? Are they now "out of the club?"

[wholetruth00]

17. Ahmadinejad objects to the way the state of Israel was formed.

He does not expouse the destruction of Jews. Many people, including non-Arabs, object to the way the state of Israel was formed by taking land from Palestinians who had no part in the holocaust.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. That is not what Israel is objecting!

They are objecting to his statements of destruction of the current Israel.

[IndianaGreen]

21. Ahmadinejad is saying the same thing that is taught in Saudi madrasas

Ahmadinejad is saying the same thing that is taught in Saudi madrasas and is repeated by the "free and democratic" people of Iraq. There is nothing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that is not repeated elsewhere across the world by millions of people. As a matter of fact, Ahmadinejad comments are tame compared to what one hears from Hamas leaders.

What we have here is not righteous indignation about Ahmadinejad's pandering to his base, but a cynical exploitation in order to advance the notion that war with Iran is warranted.

[Behind the Aegis]

22. And yet...

We find those here, at a progressive/liberal site, defending/excusing all of them. Strange that.

[IndianaGreen]

26. Let's not kid ourselves, those that hate Israel make no distinction

between Israelis that support the occupation and those that oppose it, or even make a distinction between Jews in Israel or Jews elsewhere.

I am not so much concerned about Ahmadinejad and the fundamentalist clerics whose interests he represents, than I am about another war in the Middle East in which hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people will die needlessly.

Ahmadinejad's views about Israel are no different from the late Ayatollah Khomeini. We didn't go to war back then, and neither should we go to war now on account of their idiotic statements.

[Behind the Aegis]

32. I do not support any military action against Iran.

But, I also find it hypocritical that so many rush to defend or excuse this idiot, but were it Bush, or G-d forbid an Israeli saying these things, there would be NO end to the howls of indignation. Hell, look at the posts in this thread. It is not about what he said, but that Israel is not a "pure white lilly" thus should never see justice of any sort. :puke:

[breakaleg]

33. I don't think Israel is in the position to "urge" the UN to do anything

while they continue to defy so many UN resolutions. Let them come in line and then their voice will have a little more weight. And I'll add that Israel is a hypocrite for even expecting backup on this issue from the UN.

[Behind the Aegis]

35. So basically, Israel has no rights.

Interesting.

[maddezmom]

37. locking

Thread has gone off-topic