President Shimon Peres
By JORDANA HORN
09/20/2010 20:18
NEW YORK - Addressing the United Nations General Assembly Monday, President Shimon Peres denounced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying that "there is enough room for friendship in the Middle East."
"The formal leader of Iran has said that there is no future for Israel in the Middle East," Peres told the General Assembly in his English address. "I believe that the Middle East has room for every person, every nation, every religion. I believe that every person was created in the image of the Lord, and that there is just one Lord, who calls not to hate, not to threaten, not to seek superiority, and not to kill." (Amen!)
09/20/2010 20:18
President says Iranian leader is "a living declaration against the charter of the UN";
calls for immediate talks with Syria.
NEW YORK - Addressing the United Nations General Assembly Monday, President Shimon Peres denounced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying that "there is enough room for friendship in the Middle East."
"The formal leader of Iran has said that there is no future for Israel in the Middle East," Peres told the General Assembly in his English address. "I believe that the Middle East has room for every person, every nation, every religion. I believe that every person was created in the image of the Lord, and that there is just one Lord, who calls not to hate, not to threaten, not to seek superiority, and not to kill." (Amen!)
"Israel will continue to exist, and aspire to peace with its neighbors," Peres said. (Amen and Amen!)
Peres told the General Assembly, gathered for its annual meeting, that there are two "burning challenges of our time": "to harness science and technology to increase food production for every child and every family, and to stand together against terror."
"A hungry world will never be peaceful," Peres said. "A terrorized world will never be governable." (Again, Amen!)
Despite his belief in friendship, Peres did acknowledge at the very commencement of his short speech that "history was written in blood." Speaking "on behalf of a small people and a tiny land," Peres underscored that Israel exists despite the murder of one third of the world's Jewish population in the Holocaust, and seven attacks on Israel in its 62 year history.
Citing current negotiations with the Palestinians, Peres said "there is no other peaceful alternative" to the conflict other than a two-state solution, "and I believe that we shall succeed, in spite of the difficulties."
"We are ready to enter into direct negotiations with Syria, right away," Peres added.
"We are committed to the Millenium Development Goals," Peres said. "We share the burden of saving the world from war and hunger. Without peace, poverty will remain.Without food, peace will not prevail."
Peres said that science, creativity and knowledge have "replaced land as the most important source of wealth."
"The new millenium must liberate the world from bloodshed, from discrimination, from hunger, from ignorance, from maladies," Peres said.
Peres referenced Israeli innovations in agriculture based on science, and noted that Israel has "the highest rate of scientists per square mile in the world."
"I am confident that our path is available to everyone," Peres said, referencing Israeli scientific advances. "Our experience is replicable." He added that Israel would be willing to share its experience with many countries, including those with whom Israel does not have diplomatic relations.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations after his speech, Peres called Ahmadinejad "a living declaration against the charter of the UN," referencing the provision of the UN charter which states that one member state cannot threaten another with destruction. (Bravo! With great wisdom, you have called a "spade a spade" Peres.)
"He calls for our destruction, and also supplies arms to every terrorist organization in the Middle East," Peres told reporters.
When asked about the current state of talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, Peres said there is a "serious problem" with regard to the moratorium on settlements.He noted that Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu had declared the ten month moratorium of his own initiative, and that the time was "not used" by the Palestinians.
Characterizing himself as an "old hand" in negotiations, Peres said he was "not surprised."
"The United States, as well as Israel, are in a serious search for how to bridge over difficulties," Peres said.
Peres was also asked about Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who told reporters Sunday that he would not meet with Peres while in New York for the 65th UN General Assembly.
Gul, Peres said, had attempted to put preconditions on a meeting with Peres, to which Peres could not agree. Peres stressed that Israel is still "friends" with Turkey.
Peres told the General Assembly, gathered for its annual meeting, that there are two "burning challenges of our time": "to harness science and technology to increase food production for every child and every family, and to stand together against terror."
"A hungry world will never be peaceful," Peres said. "A terrorized world will never be governable." (Again, Amen!)
Despite his belief in friendship, Peres did acknowledge at the very commencement of his short speech that "history was written in blood." Speaking "on behalf of a small people and a tiny land," Peres underscored that Israel exists despite the murder of one third of the world's Jewish population in the Holocaust, and seven attacks on Israel in its 62 year history.
Citing current negotiations with the Palestinians, Peres said "there is no other peaceful alternative" to the conflict other than a two-state solution, "and I believe that we shall succeed, in spite of the difficulties."
"We are ready to enter into direct negotiations with Syria, right away," Peres added.
"We are committed to the Millenium Development Goals," Peres said. "We share the burden of saving the world from war and hunger. Without peace, poverty will remain.Without food, peace will not prevail."
Peres said that science, creativity and knowledge have "replaced land as the most important source of wealth."
"The new millenium must liberate the world from bloodshed, from discrimination, from hunger, from ignorance, from maladies," Peres said.
Peres referenced Israeli innovations in agriculture based on science, and noted that Israel has "the highest rate of scientists per square mile in the world."
"I am confident that our path is available to everyone," Peres said, referencing Israeli scientific advances. "Our experience is replicable." He added that Israel would be willing to share its experience with many countries, including those with whom Israel does not have diplomatic relations.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations after his speech, Peres called Ahmadinejad "a living declaration against the charter of the UN," referencing the provision of the UN charter which states that one member state cannot threaten another with destruction. (Bravo! With great wisdom, you have called a "spade a spade" Peres.)
"He calls for our destruction, and also supplies arms to every terrorist organization in the Middle East," Peres told reporters.
When asked about the current state of talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, Peres said there is a "serious problem" with regard to the moratorium on settlements.He noted that Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu had declared the ten month moratorium of his own initiative, and that the time was "not used" by the Palestinians.
Characterizing himself as an "old hand" in negotiations, Peres said he was "not surprised."
"The United States, as well as Israel, are in a serious search for how to bridge over difficulties," Peres said.
Peres was also asked about Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who told reporters Sunday that he would not meet with Peres while in New York for the 65th UN General Assembly.
Gul, Peres said, had attempted to put preconditions on a meeting with Peres, to which Peres could not agree. Peres stressed that Israel is still "friends" with Turkey.
When speaking at a press conference on Sunday, however, Gul said his busy schedule was to blame for canceling the meeting. Gul went on to say Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu will be holding more than 50 bilateral meetings during the summit. During his stay in New York, however, Gul will be meeting with Ahmadinejad.
Peres is scheduled for a bilateral meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Monday afternoon, and will speak tomorrow at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York on a panel with Bahrain's Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, President Bill Clinton, and Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Salam Fayyad.
Peres is scheduled for a bilateral meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Monday afternoon, and will speak tomorrow at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York on a panel with Bahrain's Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, President Bill Clinton, and Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Salam Fayyad.
Note:
Reading the words and thoughts of Peres makes one wonder why the President of the U.S. can only call Iran "a real problem", whereas, the President of Israel can speak eloquently and truthfully about the nature of the problem with Iran.
Bee Sting
