Sunday, October 30, 2005

Iran defiant over Israel threats

By Evelyn Leopold
October 30, 2005

The United Nations Security Council has condemned a call by Iran's president to "wipe Israel off the map" and said all UN members should refrain from threatening or using force against another country.

But the condemnation, endorsed by all 15 council members, was delivered in the form of a press statement rather than at a formal council meeting, which would have given it more weight. Algeria, the only Arab council member, objected to the open meeting.

"The members of the Security Council condemn the remarks about Israel attributed to H.E. Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Mihnea Motoc, Romanian ambassador and council president.

"The members of the Security Council support the secretary-general's statement of October 17 noting that under the United Nations Charter, all members have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," Mr Motoc said.


Unless those threats are made against Iraq.

So what did President Ahmedinejad actually say?

"Once, his eminency Imam [Ruhollah Khomeini] stated that the illegal regime of the Pahlavis must go, and it happened. Then he said the Soviet empire would disappear, and it happened. He also said that this evil man Saddam [Hussein] must be punished, and we see that he is under trial in his country. His eminency also said that the occupation regime of Qods [Jerusalem, or Israel] must be wiped off from the map of the world, and with the help of the Almighty, we shall soon experience a world without America and Zionism, notwithstanding those who doubt."

Hardly friendly, but entirely in keeping with the tone of conversation between Israel and Iran. Prior to this Israel has threatened Iran with a nuclear first strike on numerous occasions without similar widespread condemnation. Israel is a nuclear power which refuses to ratify the NPT or let anyone inspect its arsenal. When Israel threatens Iran it actually does have the ability to 'wipe them off the map'.

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