Our speech at the UN: by Israeli Ambassador

[shira]

Members of the United Nations,

Democracies, dictatorships, republics, and the honorable secretary-general:



Within a few hours, media outlets in your countries shall present horrific photos of blood, fire, and rubble from the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians will be screaming, in front of the cameras, about the massacre undertaken by the State of Israel. Initially, you may show understanding for our operations in the Strip, yet once the photos of wounded civilians reach you, you shall press us, as is your custom, to stop defending ourselves.



The first signs of this phenomenon can already be seen. Calls to “end the violence” from across the world are being heard loud and clear – yet they are only being heard now, after years of violence, and after Israel finally decided to respond. The European Union already rushed to declare that it condemns Israel’s “disproportional use of force.” Several news networks have brought together panels whose members are scrutinizing the law books at this very moment in order to ascertain whether the Jewish State violated some international law.



I do not intend to deal with the question of where were these condemners and critics for the past seven years, when Hamas’ murderers set the timers of their rockets to coincidence with the end of the school day in Israel, because of a declared aim to kill as many children as possible. The question we should be discussing at this time is as follows: Why do the countries of the world and global media outlets obsessively engage in strict criticism that is only directed at Israel? After all, there is not even one country out there that is required to adhere to the moral criteria which the world demands of us – of us of all people, the ones who as opposed to the rest of the world face threats of extermination.

for more:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3646169,00.html

[ixion]

1. "defending themselves"

:eyes:

What a load of crap. The lot of them belong in the Hague.

[PerfectSage]

2. But Kadima and Labour are up in the polls and have a chance now of beating NutAandYahoo

:rofl:

[Vegasaurus]

3. More from this excellent article"

The states demanding that Israel adhere to certain moral standards do not even dream of asking the same of her enemies. After all, we are dealing with theocracies and dictatorships, where homosexuals are publicly hanged, where women are regularly stoned for undermining their “family’s honor,” and where children suspected of theft have their arms severed. What do these states have to do with the value of human life? We should therefore ask representatives of global opinion: Be honest with yourselves - Do the lives of humans being butchered daily in Iraq, Afghanistan and Darfur arouse you into similar action? Reality indicates this is not the case.

My answer to the question regarding the obsessive preoccupation with the actions of the Jews is purely sociological. Many of you, the shapers of public opinion, and mostly the Europeans amongst you, are interested in easing your conscience: If only can only show that the Israelis-Jews are not so moral or innocent, perhaps they deserve everything you did to them before they were able to establish their state? After all, here they are, occupying and butchering the poor Palestinians; they are certainly no better than us!


The single minded preoccupation with Israel, which massive genocides, suicide bombings and ethnic cleansing is happening elsewhere in the world, and people turn a blind eye, indicates the lack of moral compass of the UN.

The worldwide outrage at Israel would mean something, if there was also worldwide outrage at 7000 rockets, a genocide in Darfur, or even the killing of Fatah members by Hamas.

But the world is strangely quiet, except about Israel.

Anti-semitism at its finest.

[Vegasaurus]

4. What? No response?

Kick for more readers

[azurnoir]

6. LOL keep kicking n/t

[Scurrilous]

17. I LOLed at the timing.

This 'excellent article' languished ignored for an entire week until this morning when it suddenly appeared over at the 'DTD' trash heap.

An hour later it pops up here.

:rofl:

[azurnoir]

18. Well you know how it is

planning and all

[cali]

5. largely self-serving bullshit.

it enrages and disgusts me to read this minimization of Palestinian suffering and the pretense that the Israelis have suffered commensurately due to Palestinian actions.

Furthermore this creep, completely ignore decades of Israeli occupation and expansionism.

Yes, he has a point about not enough being said about other areas in the world where atrocities are happening, but what a weak. pathetic argument that is.

[Vegasaurus]

7. There should be a context

Either people care about atrocities, or they don't.

[cali]

8. what a weak response.

There are many reasons why certain segments care more about one atrocity than another. YOU, for example care far more about what happens to the people of Israel than the people of, say, Tibet. And don't even bother denying it. Furthermore, the ME, is a hotspot where events are always in the spotlight, due to the strategic importance of the region.

[Vegasaurus]

9. Oh, and what would you base that comment on?

How do you know how I feel about tibet?

[cali]

10. Well, let's see: I've never seen you comment on the subject

In fact, you rarely comment outside this forum. In any case, all the atrocities in the world don't make the Israeli atrocities in Gaza or the occupation and settlements on stolen land, any more palatable.

[Vegasaurus]

11. The fact that I rarely comment outside of this forum gives you no indication

of my interest in anything other than what I post on this forum.

Therefore, your comment is inflammatory and accusatory.

And unnecessary, so keep to the facts and not personal accusations.

[cali]

12. oh please. save the sanctimonious nonsense for someone who'll believe it.

My point stands: Whether there's outrage over other atrocities or not, doesn't make the atrocities that Israel is perpetrating any better. Try disputing that.

[Vegasaurus]

13. Your inflammatory remarks prevent discussion

Please put them aside.

I have never been in favor of Israel's atrocities.

I happen to think that Hamas's call to annihilate them, and send 7000 rockets flying is also an atrocity.

How would you expect Israel to deal with Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction and which considers all lands of Israel, including those WITHIN the '67 lines OCCUPIED?

Hamas has claimed it will never give up, and never make peace, no matter what Israel does.

What should Israel do (considering that you don't think military action is a good idea)?

[cali]

16. The rockets are a huge psychological threat but they are not an existential threat

I think that the Israelis could have made a big deal out of taking the moral high ground at this time and not responded militarily. They could have offered a cease fire that would have been very difficult for Hamas not to accept. And they could stop talking about how they're going to dismantle settlements and actually start doing it. And the opinion of Hamas is NOT as cut and dry as you suggest. If that were so, Hamas would never have agreed to any cease fire.

[bdamomma]

14. kick

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. The same irrefutable logic that says that killing your dog will rid it of fleas.

Or, "We had to burn down the village to save it."

[GoesTo11]

19. Prescient

"You shall press us, as is your custom, to stop defending ourselves."

Indeed, that is the custom.

[Alamuti Lotus]

20. Shows some serious balls, I like it

Insults half of the room, lectures them about how their cultures are evil, stands reality on its head and beats it with a shovel, insults the other half of the room, effectively calls them stupid and gullible, slams reports of the war as "blood libels", then leaves ostensibly expecting to be liked. Don't like a word he says, but I love the approach.

[Arrowhead2k1]

21. They'll receive very little pity from me.