ISRAEL: Israeli government argues that UN Head Ban's participation in Non-Aligned Movement summit would reward Iranian obstinacy and grant legitimacy to regime, which openly calls for annihilating Israel

Record ID: 397463

  • Title: ISRAEL: Israeli government argues that UN Head Ban's participation in Non-Aligned Movement summit would reward Iranian obstinacy and grant legitimacy to regime, which openly calls for annihilating Israel
  • Date: 10th August 2012
  • Summary: REUT, ISRAEL (FILE) (REUTERS) MORE OF REGEV TALKING ON MOBILE PHONE
  • Embargoed: 25th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6WGISKG911SRMOOHHO51I88NW
  • Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced on Friday (August 10) that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should cancel his plans to participate in a conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, schedule to take place in Tehran in late August.

    "This decision by the secretary general is a mistake, this is involuntarily giving legitimacy to the regime in Tehran, a government which is sanctioned by the U.S security council for it's aggressive nuclear weapon's program. A regime that supports terrorism a regime that is openly anti-semitic, that says my country (means Israel) should be wiped of the face of the earth," Mark Regev, Israeli government spokesperson told Reuters.
    Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister said in a written statement Ban had "acted fairly" during his years leading the UN, adding, "Thus, I was so disappointed to hear about your trip to the Non-Aligned Movement conference in Tehran."
    Founded in 1961, the Non-Aligned Movement was created by developing countries seeking to steer a middle course during the Cold War. While the organization has 120 member states and 21 observer countries, only some 31 heads of state are scheduled to attend the Tehran conference, according to Iranian media reports.
    Israel's prime minister and defence minister would like to attack Iran's nuclear sites before the U.S. election in November but lack crucial support within their cabinet and military, an Israeli newspaper said on Friday.
    The biggest-selling daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said the top Israeli leaders had failed to win over other security cabinet ministers for a strike on Iran now, against a backdrop of objections by the armed forces given the big tactical and strategic hurdles such an operation would face.
    Israel has long threatened to attack its arch-foe, seeing a mortal menace in Iranian nuclear advances and dwindling opportunities to deal them a blow with its limited military clout. Washington has urged Israel to give diplomacy more time.
    The war talk is meant, in part, to stiffen sanctions on Tehran - which denies seeking the bomb and says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes - by conflict-wary world powers. Israel and the United States have publicly sought to play down their differences, the latter saying military force would be a last-ditch option against Iran.
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