| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Gillerman slams tendency to accept 'status quo' of terrorism |
| 2008-03-26 |
| Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman on Tuesday criticized the "trend" to equate the "lawful actions" of a state in defense of its citizens with the "violence of terrorists" during a bitter exchange in the Security Council's monthly meeting on the situation in the Middle East. "The misguided tendency to accept the 'status quo' of terrorism is simply unacceptable," said Gillerman. "Such parity, which is often in the name of an ill-conceived balance, undermines the strength and credibility of moderate states to bolster one another and isolate the extremists." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the meeting, urging Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to increase efforts to reach a peace settlement this year. "It is my hope that we can achieve this ambitious goal," Ban said. "I believe all of us must ask ourselves, and the parties, two simple questions: If not this, what? If not now, when?" "This (peace) process is too important to be allowed to lose momentum through inaction or indifference, or to be overwhelmed by violence," Ban said. "It is essential that it receives the support of the international community, including this council." The Palestinian UN observer Riyad Mansour, attacked Israel for its "violent occupation," the continuation of "illegal settlement building" and human rights violations. Mansour said Israel continues to ignore international law and acts without "law, morality and humanity." Gillerman called on other nations to demonstrate collective support for the negotiations toward a lasting peace for the region. "This is the mandate of the international community. This is its calling. This is its duty," he said. "This collective resolve must be shown first and foremost by this council." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 "If not now, when?" Uh, after the Palestinians are utterly defeated and have lost the will to fight, maybe THEN? (Reference: "The Jacksonian Rules of War") |
| Posted by: Flainter Wittlesbach6174 2008-03-26 08:37 |
| #1 After his term in UN is over, Gillerman can get a job teaching calculus to dogs. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-03-26 07:37 |