YouSaid · the spoken record

Prosor

lines on the record: 556
first: 2011-06-30
most recent: 2015-07-30
sittings or episodes: 50
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“If you solve that conflict, you have solved all the other conflicts in the region. Make no mistake; it is important for Israel and the Palestinians to find a resolution to our long-standing conflict for its own merits. Yet the truth is that conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain and many other parts of the Middle East have absolutely nothing to do with Israel. It is obvious that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not stop the persecution of minorities across the region, end the subjugation of women or heal sectarian divides. Obsessing over Israel has not stopped Al-Assad's tanks from flattening entire communities. On the contrary, it has only distracted attention from his crimes. Even this morning's debate has lost any sense of proportion. Thousands are being killed in Syria, hundreds in Yemen and dozens in Iraq.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“Let me begin by thanking you personally, Madam President, for your outstanding leadership of the Security Council this month. Churchill once said that in the time it takes a lie to get halfway around the world, the truth is still getting its pants on. In the barren deserts of the Middle 8 East, myths find fertile ground to grow wild. Facts often remain buried in the sand. The myths forged in our region travel abroad - and can find their way, surprisingly, even into this Chamber. I would like to use today's debate as an opportunity to address just a few of the myths that have become a permanent hindrance to our discussion of the Middle East here at the United Nations. Myth number one is that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the central conflict in the Middle East.”
2012-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6757 (2012) · source
“It is clear that such work advances the international community's ability to understand the threat of sexual violence and to respond more effectively. Every fall, during our holiest of days, the Jewish people pray, "May all humankind become one single family". It is in that spirit that we must pursue this pressing issue. The imperative to prevent sexual violence extends beyond politics, religion or geography. It stands at the core of our common humanity and the guiding mission of this Council. Together, we must do our utmost to heal the victims, protect the innocent and punish those who carry out this evil. As a family of nations, we must stand shoulder to shoulder to defend each person from sexual violence, as if he or she were members of our own family.”
2012-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6722Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Women have a vital role to play in preventing sexual violence, which is why we must increase their roles in peacekeeping forces, negotiation teams and other relevant bodies. Israel shares the serious concern of many others about the allegations of sexual violence by peacekeepers in Haiti over the past year. Such allegations highlight the important role that women protection advisers play in such contingents. Today, I would like to commend the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Wallstrom, and her whole team, sitting here, for the valuable work that they continue to carry out, such as developing early warning indicators for sexual violence in conflicts.”
2012-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6722Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We must act with common purpose in the face of these atrocities. We must have zero tolerance for the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Israel was a proud to sponsor of resolution 1960 (2010) and the previous resolutions on women and peace and security. It is time for the international community to breathe life into the words contained in these resolutions with concrete actions on the ground. The Secretary-General's report (S/20l2/33) offers clear guidance on important steps that the international community must take. For instance, operationally, those listed in the annex of these reports should face additional measures from the Security Council sanctions committees. Israel also strongly supports the recommendation to include provisions for conflict- related sexual violence in ceasefire and peace agreements.”
2012-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6722Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Armed groups in Africa - from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Somalia - are using sexual violence to spread terror, instil fear and shatter lives. These tyrants, those warlords and criminals know that they leave scars not just on individual victims, but on families and communities. Major General Patrick Cammaert, the former Commander of United Nations peacekeeping forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo said: "Rape is an extremely cheap weapon, but has vast and far-reaching effects. With the single weapon of rape, soldiers and militants can disrupt and destroy the fabric of society. Rape sows fear; it spreads sexually transmitted disease. It excludes women from participation in civic life." In the year since the Security Council adopted resolution 1960 (2010), the instances of sexual violence have only increased.”
2012-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6722Resumption1 (2012) · source
“After Honorata escaped, the stigma of her rape caused her family to reject her, leaving her alone and impoverished. The victims are women like Layla, a teenager from Iran who was detained for two months during the country's protests in 2009. In a report last year on the PBS television channel, Layla described her treatment by the Iranian authorities. She said, "When they were raping and torturing me, and putting out cigarettes on my body, nobody knew... Death was a desire for me. I wanted to die". Testimonies like Layla's remind us that the systematic use of sexual violence is often the calling card of the most brutal regimes and militias in the world. State-sponsored rape has served as a primary tool of dictators from Al-Qadhafi in Libya, Al-Assad in Syria to the ayatollahs of Iran.”
2012-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6722Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Mr. President, let me begin by thanking you personally for your stewardship of the Security Council this month and for holding this very important debate. Today's discussion is about our collective responsibility to give voice to the voiceless. An increasing number of conflicts around the world are made even more horrific by the use of sexual violence. These are often the most disturbing and the most hidden elements of conflict. Yet, the number of victims is staggering, and it continues to grow every day. Each one of these people has a name and has a family. The victims are women like Honorata, a young mother from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was held for nearly a year by armed militias and raped daily in captivity.”
2012-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6722Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We continue to look for new opportunities to build institutions and capabilities in the region. In many corners of West Africa today, we see how trouble comes in twos and threes. Criminals and terrorists continue to exploit instability and lawlessness and to sow even greater chaos. The international community must work with African nations to break this cycle. We must pave the road to development, while clearing the obstacles of terror and crime from its path. This is a collective challenge. No nation is free from responsibility, and no nation can escape the consequences of inaction.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“She said, "Like them, we had shaken off foreign rule; like them, we had to learn for ourselves how to reclaim the land, how to increase the yields of our crops, and how to defend ourselves." Thousands of Israeli experts set out for the continent - driven by the spirit of what we call tikkun 01am, the Jewish principle that calls on us to mend the world and make it a better place. The connections forged in those years have blossomed into a programme of extensive cooperation. Today in Ghana, Israel's network of prenatal clinics has dramatically reduced child and infant mortality. In Senegal, our triangular partnership with Italy has brought innovative Israeli drip irrigation to thousands of African farmers, helping them to move from poverty to self-sufficiency.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Development must be a part of a long-term strategy to fight crime and terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. A strong foundation of economic security, good governance and social cohesion denies criminals and terrorists the environments that they need in order to operate. Israel has been deeply engaged in development cooperation in Africa for more than five decades. In 1958, Golda Meir, then serving as Foreign Minister, made a historic visit to the newly independent States of Africa. On her trip, Golda Meir resolved to share Israel's growing expertise with our African neighbours.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Israel is prepared to play our part in that effort. Our export control laws and regulations are rigorous and extensive. They ensure that all arms exports meet the standards and criteria set by the Wassenaar Arrangement and all other supplier regimes. Israel has long worked hand in hand with African nations to combat transnational crime and terrorism. We continue to share our knowledge and experience with many African States and regional organizations. These collaborative efforts span a range of issues from terrorist financing to aviation security and from money-laundering to border protection. Israel is proud to be a donor and an active partner in the counter- terrorism efforts here at the United Nations, working closely with bodies such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the international counter- terrorism committees.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Hizbullah and its Iranian sponsors pose a threat to innocent people in all corners of the globe - as we saw last week in New Delhi, Bangkok and Tbilisi. The security challenges in West Africa call for a two-track approach. The international community must work with African nations to root out terrorism and crime while we nourish the roots of development and prosperity. Together, we must strengthen regional cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, toughen border controls and improve intelligence-sharing. We must ensure that terrorist and criminal groups are placed on every terrorism and law enforcement watch list at the national and international levels. Together, we must make greater efforts to prevent the transfer of small arms and all other weapons to criminals and terrorists, including dual-use items.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“The State of Israel understands that our destinies are intertwined with those of the nations of West Africa and the Sahel. Today, we stand shoulder to shoulder with these nations as we pursue common opportunities and face common threats. Israel is particularly concerned about Hizbullah's activity in the region, which has served as a hub for the terrorist organization's operations for more than two decades. Hizbullah uses West Africa as a transit point for funnelling money, arms and drugs to far-flung corners of the globe. These criminal enterprises strengthen Hizbullah's ability to create sleeper cells in the region and to garner support from the local population. The world cannot afford to stand by and give Hizbullah a base for operations in West Africa. These activities are not only a clear and imminent danger to the people of Africa.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“It is made possible by an increasingly linked network of smuggling rings, traditional criminals and terrorists. Terrorists understand that if one can smuggle narcotics into a European capital, one can easily do the same with an anti-aircraft missile. They understand that lawless environments are fertile ground for radicalization. They recognize that selling drugs can pay for bombs. Working together, criminals, gangsters and terrorists have declared war on stability in West Africa. They remain a key obstacle to unlocking the region's vast potential. The criminal terrorist networks in West Africa are not only a local problem; they are a global problem. West Africa's battle is our battle. Its enemies are our enemies, and its future is our future.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“I want to thank you, Sir, for presiding over the Security Council today, and the Togo delegation for organizing this important discussion. Seven months ago, the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Abuja claimed the lives of more than 20 people and shocked the world. That was just one of 115 separate attacks engineered last year by Boko Haram that killed more than 500 people. The Secretary-General correctly described the attack on the United Nations headquarters as an assault on those who devote themselves to helping others. The explosions in Abuja illuminated the struggle now taking place for Africa's future between those who seek stability and those who seek chaos; between extremism and progress; between hope and hatred. The alarming rise in terrorism throughout West Africa is connected to a global trend.”
2012-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6717Resumption1 (2012) · source
“As Winston Churchill once said, "We must be united, we must be undaunted, we must be inflexible". At this critical moment, for the sake of our children and our common future, the world has no other choice.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“Let us hope that his trip brings a bit of new perspective to this Organization about the real obstacles to peace and security and the real issues of extremism, terrorism and incitement in our region. The challenges facing the Middle East are growing every day. They stand clearly before the Council. They threaten all of us. It is on the Council's shoulders to confront them with courage and with leadership. Tired rhetoric and misplaced focus have too often characterized this debate. They will no longer suffice. As Iran inches closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon, as extremists spread terrorism and hate, and as the enemies of peace test the resolve of the international community, silence is not an option. Confronting these fundamental threats will not be easy. It will require struggle and sacrifice.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“Let me state clearly what I have said in numerous letters to the Security Council and in previous debates. The situation in Gaza is very serious. One spark could ignite a dangerous escalation. The Security Council has an obligation to act boldly and immediately. Yet the Council still has not found the time or the will to utter a single syllable of condemnation against the attacks, and the silence is deafening. No people should be expected to live under such terror. No Government should be expected to stand idle in the face of such violence. Later this month, the Secretary-General will visit Israel and see the threats we face with his own eyes.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“The Quartet has long applied three principles that Hamas must adopt to become a legitimate actor in the peace process. It must renounce violence, recognize Israel and abide by prior Palestinian agreements. The bar could not be set any lower, yet at no point has Hamas satisfied those conditions or indicated any intention to do so. It says no to negotiation, it says no to recognition of Israel and it continues to carry out violence against Israel day after day. Any who suggest that Hamas is a partner for peace should take a trip to the Gaza Strip. The area remains a launching ground for constant rocket attacks targeting Israeli cities and civilians. Last year, some 700 rockets were fired into Israel. That is an average of almost two rockets fired every single day.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“It is time to stop negotiating about negotiating. It is time to stop meeting about meeting. It is time to stop talking about talking. Yet instead of taking steps toward peace with Israel, President Abbas continues to flirt with the dangers of unity with Hamas. Hamas is another subject that has not been mentioned here. Hamas is a terrorist organization funded, supported and trained by the Iranian regime. It has diverted nearly every resource in Gaza to oppressing its own people or attacking ours. Women are subjugated, political opponents are jailed and murdered, and children are used as human shields and suicide bombers. That is the reality on the ground in Gaza today, as we speak, yet we did not hear one word or even syllable about it in today's briefing.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“But what was even more disturbing is that no one from the Palestinian leadership stood up and condemned his comments, denounced his actions or dissociated themselves from his message. Not only did they not condemn his words, they even broadcast them on public Palestinian television channels. The Palestinian leadership said nothing - and its silence speaks volumes. The path to peace is clear. The international community must tell the Palestinians unequivocally that unilateralism is a dead end and that direct negotiations are the only way forward. Recent talks in Amman are a positive step in this regard, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank King Abdullah and everyone else for helping to facilitate those meetings. Now Israelis and Palestinians must take the next step towards peace together.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“Day after day, children are taught to pursue violence and to hate, vilify and dehumanize Israelis and Jews. Let me be clear. I am talking not only about Hamas in Gaza, but also about the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, where one cannot turn a corner without seeing terrorists and terrorism glorified. This month, on 9 January, as Mr. Fernandez- Taranco mentioned - and I will go into it because he mentioned it only in passing - Palestinian Authority television broadcast the proceedings of an event celebrating Fatah's forty-seventh anniversary. It featured a sermon by the Authority's most senior religious leader, Mufti Muhammad Hussein, who presented the killing of Jews as a sacred goal for all Muslims. His comments were deeply disturbing.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“That gap between their perception and reality is and will remain the major obstacle to peace. Since the Palestinian leadership refuses to tell the Palestinian people the truth, the international community has the responsibility to tell them the truth. It has the responsibility to stand up and say that the so- called claim of return is a non-starter. Yet many around this table who never miss an opportunity to tell Israel what it has to do for peace conveniently lose their voices when it comes to telling the Palestinian people about the basic compromises they will have to make for peace. The Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish State goes hand in hand with a culture of incitement in mosques, in schools and in the media.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“If anyone ever hears them say "two States for two peoples", I would ask them to phone me at my office immediately - to and call me collect, in the event of such an unprecedented occurrence. No one will hear them say "two States for two peoples" because today the Palestinian leadership is calling for an independent Palestinian State but insists that its people return to the Jewish State. That would mean the destruction of Israel. The idea that Israel will be flooded with millions of Palestinians will never be accepted. The international community knows it, the Palestinian leadership knows it, but the Palestinian people are not hearing it. To substantiate that, in a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion last November, 90 per cent of Palestinians said that they would not give up the claim of return.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“It is obvious that Yemen, Syria, Egypt, Bahrain and other conflicts in the Middle East have nothing to do with Israel. The constant repetition of the statement does not make it true. How many times have members of this Council- and many others - repeated that settlements are the primary obstacle to peace? Similarly, repetition of that statement does not make it true. The primary obstacle to peace is not settlements. The primary obstacle to peace is the so-called claim of return. Let me repeat that. The major hurdle to peace is the Palestinians' insistence on the so-called claim of return. No one will ever hear Palestinian leaders - not even here in this Chamber - say "two States for two peoples".”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“Yet entire Middle Eastern countries where people are being killed, repressed and tortured daily continue to go without mention. That is logic turned on its head. Let me be clear - perfectly clear. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is important on its own merits, so that Israelis and Palestinians alike can lead peaceful, secure and prosperous lives. But the misallocation of the Security Council's time, energy and resources erodes its credibility. How many times have members of this Council - and many others - repeated the statement that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the central conflict in the Middle East and that if we solve that conflict we solve all the other conflicts in the region? Today one would ridicule that statement.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“It is time for the rest of the international community and the Council to join those efforts. We come together today after a year of turmoil in the Middle East. Great challenges lie on the horizon. People are demanding dignity and seeking liberty after generations of oppression. Extremism threatens fragile societies. Human rights continue to be trampled. Unrest has shaken the foundation of the political order from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea. And what issue has the Council deemed to be the most pressing in its monthly debate on the Middle East? Surprise, surprise - it is the status of municipal building applications in the West Bank. In the last two monthly briefings by the Secretariat, barely a square inch of Jerusalem or the West Bank has been left unexamined.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“There is no plausible civilian justification for that action. It blatantly violates numerous resolutions of the Council and will bring Iran significantly closer to producing weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium. 12-21354 Each and every Member of the United Nations - particularly those of the Council - should lie awake at night thinking about what would happen if the regime in Tehran gets a hold of the most dangerous weapon on Earth. Only the pressure of a united international community can stop Iran from continuing its march towards nuclear weapons. The political and economic price that Iran will pay must be clear. Israel commends the recent steps taken by the United States, the European Union and others in that regard. Although those are very important steps, we must judge them based on their results.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“As this is the first time that I address the Security Council in the new year, let me congratulate the five new Council members on their election. I wish each of them the best of luck in navigating the sometimes stormy debates of the Chamber. As we gather in the Chamber, an alarm bell is ringing. Never has it been so clear that Iran is seeking to build a nuclear weapon. That is the single greatest threat to the security of the entire world. Now is the time to act. Tomorrow is too late. The stakes are too high. The price of inaction is too great. The latest International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports prove beyond any doubt that Iran has a nuclear weapons programme, which it is rapidly advancing. Iran recently announced that it would enrich uranium to 20 per cent at its nuclear facility in Qom.”
2012-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6706 (2012) · source
“If we truly join forces, the international community can decisively stem the rising tide of terrorism and build a brighter future for our children.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Promoting or overlooking incitement is to choose to educate the next generation of terrorists. No declarations or statements to the contrary can deny these simple truths. The time has come for all responsible members of the international community to speak the complete, unvarnished and sometimes difficult truths about those who support terrorism. It is time for all States to join together and take effective action. The challenges before us are clear. The opportunities to work together are apparent. We urge all Member States to set aside their differences in this fight, to renounce short-term and short-sighted policies in favour of international cooperation, and to realize that complacency is not an option in this struggle.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Those weapons contribute to instability and fuel violent attacks on civilians. As we sit here today, rockets fired by terrorists in the Gaza Strip continue to rain down on the people of southern Israel. Yet, the Security Council has not uttered a single word of condemnation against those continuous and brutal acts of terrorism. This silence speaks volumes. The victims of terror are part and parcel of any debate on counter-terrorism. Their voices must be heard. Elie Wiesel once wrote, "Even when faced with the murderous madness of criminals, and in the presence of the silent agony of their victims, it is incumbent upon us to choose between escape and solidarity, shame and honour." There is no grey area. Turning a blind eye to terrorists is to choose terrorism.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Israel supports the ongoing efforts to increase fairness, transparency and due process in the Committee's work. We must develop more effective international standards to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and dual-use items. The international community has a clear duty to do whatever it takes to keep the world's most dangerous weapons out of the hands of its most dangerous terrorists and regimes. In that regard, I wish to reiterate Israel's support for resolution 1540 (2004). We also cannot turn a blind eye to those States that continue to actively sponsor terrorism, such as Iran and Syria. Today, Iran serves as the world's central banker, primary sponsor and chief trainer of terrorists. The flow of advanced weapons to terrorists in our region is growing in scope and scale.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Israel continues to share its unique expertise with others in that global fight. We are closely engaged in capacity-building initiatives with a number of States and regional organizations in Africa, South and Central America, East and Central Asia and other regions around the world. Such collaborative efforts span a range of issues from terrorist financing to aviation security and from money-laundering to border protection. The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities has made several important changes in its procedures since the Council's last briefing. In June, the Council empowered the Ombudsperson to offer recommendations for de-listing. That is an important step forward.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“Those dangers are tightly woven together and the criminal-terrorist fabric must be addressed as a whole. Technical assistance is another area where there are significant opportunities for improvement. I would like to reiterate my country's call to conduct a new assessment of technical assistance for counter- terrorism. The need for such a study is clear. The international community needs to develop a knowledge base so that it can tailor technical assistance programmes more effectively, efficiently and constructively. We must understand the extent of participation in existing programmes and how they improve States' long-term ability to fight terrorism. In cases where the benefits of technical assistance have not materialized, we should ask difficult questions. Successful models should be shared as best practices.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“The recent global survey by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (CTC) of the implementation of the resolution (see S/2011/463, annex) illustrates the great challenges that still lie ahead. Large areas of the globe remain vulnerable. Many States have failed to enact national counter- terrorism legislation that meets international standards. Issues such as border control, incitement and the financing of terrorism remain pressing concerns. Like the illicit trade in arms, drugs and persons, terrorism and radicalization take place in areas where the rule of law is dormant. We must pay greater attention, at both the legislative and the law enforcement levels, to the increasing links between terrorist organizations, such as Hezbollah, and international criminal networks.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“It highlighted the close links between terrorists and criminal networks, illustrating the clear connection among terrorist activity, money-laundering and illegal arms and narcotics trafficking. Time and again, we see that terrorists will take advantage of any weakness in governance and international cooperation to advance their aims. A gap in any State's counter-terrorism capacity is a weak link that can be exploited, with potentially devastating consequences for the rest of the world. We must face that challenge together. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy provides an important framework for collective action. Each and every Member State must recognize its role in advancing the full implementation of that Strategy, along with all other relevant Security Council resolutions.”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important debate. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the Chairpersons of the counter-terrorism committees for their informative briefings. Today's meeting is an opportunity to put out a call for effective and collective action in the fight against terrorism around the world. That is an imperative for the international community. Divided, we cannot address the core challenges of terrorism; united, we can; and for the sake of our children and our common security, we also must do so. Last September, the Security Council adopted an outcome document to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1373 (2001).”
2011-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6658 (2011) · source
“It is time for the Security Council to speak the complete, unvarnished and sometimes difficult truths about those who ruthlessly target and employ civilians in armed conflict. The Governments and terrorist organizations that display such callous disregard for human life should find no refuge in this Chamber. Let us bring new clarity to this debate, for the sake of our children, our security and our common future.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“In schools, mosques and the media, generation after generation of children across the Middle East have been taught to hate, vilify and dehumanize Israelis and Jews. The international community has a duty to end that culture of incitement. We need education that promotes peace instead of hate, 11-5866] tolerance instead of violence, and mutual understanding instead of martyrdom. In Syria, Bashar Al-Assad remains the world's only ophthalmologist dedicated to cutting his people's vision of hope and freedom. His regime is slaughtering his people in the streets day after day. Yet, some members of the Council remain blind to his brutality. The Syrian people's cries must not go unheard. The great Jewish philosopher Samuel ibn Naghrela once said, "the truth can hurt like a thorn, at first; but in the end it blossoms like a rose".”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Just two weeks ago, Wafa al-Biss was released from prison as part of Israel's exchange for the release of our kidnapped solider, Gilad Shalit. She had been serving a sentence for trying to blow herself up in an Israeli hospital. Moments after arriving in Gaza, she told a crowd of cheering schoolchildren at a Hamas rally: "I hope you will walk the same path that we took and, God willing, we will see some of you as martyrs". These are the poisonous values that are being fed to the next generation of children in Gaza. When Israel looks at children, we see the future. When Hamas looks at children, they see suicide bombers and human shields. Incitement is not confined to Gaza. It also pervades the official institutions of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and many other corners of our region.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“When Hamas is not deliberately attacking Israeli civilians, it is oppressing and endangering its own people. For Hamas, the people of Gaza serve as permanent human shields. Schools have become launching pads for rockets, homes have become experimental weapons laboratories, and mosques have become missile storage lockers. Entire residential neighbourhoods have become bases for terror. Hamas and other terrorists in Gaza show the same blatant disregard for the safety of international organizations. They abuse access privileges and insignia, endangering international humanitarian personnel and obstructing the movement of aid. Underlying the violence that continues to emanate from Gaza is a deeply rooted culture of incitement.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“And as the rockets continue to roar out of Gaza, it is no coincidence that silence also echoes from the Ramallah headquarters of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. One of the most fundamental human rights is the right of all people to live their lives without fear of terrorist attacks. Day after day, Israeli citizens are 2 denied this right. Like any country, Israel has the inherent right and responsibility to defend its population. Yet, whenever we exercise our legitimate right to self-defence, Israel goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid harming civilians. Israel's Supreme Court and other independent mechanisms oversee all military operations, even during active combat, to ensure that they comply with our laws, values and obligations. The contrast with the terrorists we face could not be clearer.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“In the past two weeks alone, many dozens of Grad rockets and long-range missiles have been fired into the heart of major Israeli cities, onto the playgrounds of our kindergartens, and into the living rooms of our homes. The pain caused by these attacks is permanent. The scars are both physical and psychological. Less than two weeks ago, a man was killed when a rocket exploded on top of his car in a city called Ashkelon. Many others have been injured in recent attacks. One million Israelis were compelled to stay home from work last week to ensure their safety, while 200,000 children were kept home from school. These stories should shock and appal the Security Council and all decent people. Yet, surprisingly, not a single word of condemnation has been uttered by this Council - not one word. The silence speaks volumes.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“At the outset, let me thank the Portuguese presidency and you personally, Sir, for convening this important debate, and President Cavaco Silva for having presided over the meeting this morning. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his remarks, and all others the speakers who set the stage for today's discussion. We sit here this afternoon in New York to discuss the vital importance of protecting civilians in armed conflict, as rockets continue to rain down on more than 1 million men, women and children in southern Israel. There is no question that Hamas and other terrorists in Gaza deliberately target civilians in these attacks.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Women can and should lead the way to peace, but they must be given opportunities to sit in the driver's seat. The international community has a duty to remove the obstacles from their path, so that we all can build the foundation for a brighter future.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“Across many corners of the Middle East today, women are prohibited from driving, voting, receiving inheritances, getting an education and travelling alone in public. The subjugation of women in our region cannot be ignored; it is a major obstacle to creating real understanding between cultures and to building sustainable peace. Peace begins at home. Children learn the values of tolerance and understanding, first and foremost, from those who raise them - usually from their mothers. We must recognize that when women are subjugated and denied access to education, these important values are damaged and lost. Empowered women hold together healthy families, build strong societies and serve as the most important bridges to other cultures. Peace in the Middle East and around the world depends on empowering women and ensuring their equal rights.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“This year Major General Orna Barbivai made history when she was elevated to the second- highest rank in the Israel Defense Forces. As part of our commitment to implementing resolution 1325 (2000), Israel's Government holds workshops to promote dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian women at the Mount Carmel International Training Center in Haifa. More than 650 Israeli and Palestinian women have participated in more than 20 workshops over the past eight years. Such seminars provide women with the tools and understanding needed to promote peace and non-violence. A wide range of similar projects are now under way in Israel. We must recognize the clear connection between advancing peace and advancing equal rights for women.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“By law, women must be included on Israeli negotiating teams. Maybe that will move a few things forward. In a region where women are too often excluded from public life, Israeli women stand out as leaders in law, politics, mediation and conflict prevention and resolution. The opposition in the Israeli parliament is headed by a woman, Tzipi Livni. She also led the Israeli negotiating team with the Palestinians as the former Foreign Minister, and my former boss. Another woman, Shelly Yachimovich, was recently elected to lead the Israeli Labour party. In Israel, we take pride in the fact that approximately half of our internationally renowned judiciary is made up of women, including our Supreme Court, which is lead by Justice Dorit Beinish. Women also occupy senior positions in our defence establishment.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source