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

“In Israel, Salim Joubran, a Christian Arab Israeli, has done so for more than a decade. I am proud to represent an ancient people in its modern homeland, a people whose numbers are few but whose contributions are immeasurable. A people who confront terror and pray for peace. When I think about negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, there is a predictable pattern on the part of the Palestinians - demand, delay and desert. Before taking a single step towards the negotiation table, the Palestinian leadership demands that Israel submit to substantial concessions. Once Israel agrees, they drag their feet and evoke every delay tactic in the book. Then, as the deadline approaches and courageous leadership decisions are required, Abbas deserts the talks. He did so in 2008.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source
“Since then, we have taken a desolate land and made it flourish; we took a language on the verge of extinction and brought it back to life; and we took an ancient people and gave them refuge from the persecutions that plagued them across the centuries and across the globe. The State of Israel is proof that the strength of a nation can be measured by the freedom of its citizens. From the Red Sea to the Caspian Sea, Israel is the only democracy providing its citizens the right to worship freely, the right to vote in elections, and the right to read from an uncensored media. It is also the only nation that defends the rule of law and upholds rights of minorities. Israel does not preach these rights; we practice them. Where else in the Middle East can a member of a minority group serve as a Supreme Court justice?”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source
“First of all, allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate Nigeria on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. Next week, Israel will celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut, its Independence Day, which commemorates the Jewish people's return to the land of Israel after thousands of years in exile. In the land ofIsrael, every hill and valley, every stream and ravine is steeped in history. In Hebron, one can visit the spot where Abraham purchased a burial plot for his wife, Sarah. In Jerusalem, one can visit the place where King David established his kingdom and where King Solomon built the Jewish temple. For thousands of years, the Jewish people maintained a constant presence in the land of Israel, watching empires rise and fall and conquerors come and go, until 1948 when the modern State of Israel was reborn.”
2014-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7164 (2014) · source
“Somewhere there is a soldier who knows that he is outnumbered and outgunned but who stands tall at his post. Somewhere there is a police officer who refuses to take a bribe even as he struggles to feed his family. Somewhere there is a peaceful protester raising her voice against oppression, knowing that the consequences will be grave. Such men and women are willing to risk their lives because they believe that every person deserves freedom and dignity. They are role models for us all. Let us be inspired by their courage; let us be driven by their strength; and let us strive to be worthy guardians of their ideals.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“Even so, a democracy has the upper hand." The character of a society can be assessed by its commitment to a system of laws that both protect and liberate its citizens. Insecure tyrannies deny their citizens the security of an impartial judiciary. Israel, on the other hand, understands that the rule of law is key to unlocking opportunity. By ensuring its citizens enjoy freedom and empowerment, Israel has built a thriving, prosperous and robust society. While those freedoms present real challenges to our security, Israel is secure in the knowledge that the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term costs. A society cannot be truly free until its citizens have the right to challenge the status quo and to openly speak their minds. The Council should do everything in its power to support the brave few who live and die by such ideas.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“They know that they can speak freely without fear of arbitrary arrest, imprisonment or execution. If someone here were put on trial and had to pick which legal system in the Middle East would hear their case, which nation would they choose? I suspect they would select Israel, where they are guaranteed their day in court, as opposed to our neighbours, where the judicial system is nothing short of a nightmare. Israel's commitment to freedom means that the burden of condemnation falls disproportionately on Israel. It also means that our struggle to combat terrorism is made more difficult because of our determination to respect the rule of law. As former Israeli Chief Justice Aharon Barak said, "A democracy must sometimes fight with one hand tied behind its back.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“In a region known for intolerance and repression, Israel stands out for its commitment to the rule of law. Our Declaration of Independence ensures that the majority governs, while minorities enjoy equal rights. In fact, our Arab citizens in Israel have more rights than Arabs anywhere else in the Middle East. While most nations in the region relegate women to the margins of society, Israeli women are leaders in every field and discipline, from courtrooms to classrooms and from operating theatres to boardrooms. More than 40 years ago, Golda Meir became Israel's first female Prime Minister, making my country then just the third in the world to elect a woman to its highest office. Israel's commitment to the free exchange of ideas has made it a destination of choice for reporters, academics and human rights activists.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“This past summer, three Iranian Christians were found guilty of "crimes against State security" and sentenced to 10 years in prison. What was the terrible crime that threatened Iran's security? The three Christians were selling Bibles. Iran abuses its judicial system to deny its citizens due process and subject prisoners to inhumane and degrading punishments such as lashings and execution. In 2013, 624 people were executed in Iran, many in secret. Just a few weeks ago, the regime hanged a poet for criticizing its treatment of minorities. Nation after nation in the Middle East mercilessly persecutes its citizens and seeks to mandate what they should believe, how they should act and whom they can love. In Lebanon, in Egypt and in Syria, the penalty for being gay is imprisonment, while in Yemen and Iran the penalty is death.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“Not long ago, a few brave women defied the ban and were detained by police and fined for the so-called crime of tarnishing the Kingdom's reputation. Tarnishing the Kingdom's reputation? The real stain on the Kingdom is its failure to recognize that by relegating half of its population to the back seat, Saudi Arabia is being steered off course. In addition to upholding draconian laws that marginalize their civilians, the judicial systems in many Arab nations subject women to unspeakable injustice and violence. Syria and Iraq's legal systems allow rapists to avoid punishment by marrying their victims, while Iranian women are arrested, beaten and even mutilated with acid for not conforming to the regime's so-called moral code.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“Across the Middle East and North Africa, nations are sinking under the crippling weight of corruption, tyranny and inequality. Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." In too many parts of the Middle East, the rule of law is not used to protect and defend citizens but rather to discriminate against them. Women are denied their opportunities to make decisions about their future, such as getting an education, pursuing a profession and earning money and choosing how to spend it. In Saudi Arabia, women need a guardian's permission to marry, take classes and travel. That is also the only country in the world that bans women from driving cars.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“I would like to recognize that the presence of Deputy-Secretary-General Eliasson brings additional awareness and attention to this important subject. In December 2010, a Tunisian police officer confiscated the cart of a young street vendor. The same young man had been harassed by local officials for years. Instead of upholding the law, the police demanded a bribe to return the card. Humiliated, distraught and denied legal recourse, the young man went to the headquarters of the provincial Government and lit himself on fire. That young Tunisian became a symbol for men and women in the Arab world who long for freedom. Tens ofmillions ofpeople understood the desperation felt by that young vendor because they too live in a society without an honest judiciary, an independent media or free elections.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“And somewhere in the world there are children labouring day and night to help ease the burden on their families. Ronald Reagan said, "Let us be sure that those who come after will say that in our time we did everything that could be done." Those men, women and children should not stand alone. We should be standing at their side, easing their burden and ensuring a safer and more secure future for them. We share the fundamental responsibility to protect civilians from the three "Ts" - terror, torment and tyranny. We must set aside our differences and make a lasting change for generations to come. The clock is ticking, and time is running out. It is time to stop talking and take decisive action. Every life we save is a world unto itself. No nation is free from responsibility. I call on each and every one of us today to act now.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“I want to thank the Permanent Representative of India, who spoke just now, for raising important questions that need to be addressed by the Council honestly and openly. In this age of modern warfare, it is difficult to distinguish between combatants and bystanders. Petty politics have drained the efforts and attention of the Security Council. Instead of opening the channels of humanitarian aid, little more than a trickle of assistance is reaching those who need it the most. If we are really honest with ourselves, then we will admit that we have not done enough. Somewhere in the world there is a mother shielding her children as rockets and mortars explode all around. Somewhere in the world there is a father crawling through rubble searching for scraps of food to feed his hungry children.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“And when violent extremists began a swift campaign of terror in northern Mali, France took the lead with decisive action that saved the lives of countless civilians. Each and every country must do its part. Horrified by the savagery and violence that has ravaged Syria, Israel has refused to be indifferent to the suffering. We have treated hundreds of Syrians in desperate need of medical care. When Governments are unable or unwilling to protect their civilians, the United Nations is often the last line of defence. Peacekeepers have saved tens of thousands of lives, but the reality is that millions of civilians are still in need of protection. Those innocent men and women turn to the United Nations for help, but find themselves standing alone.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“We have all been criticized for not doing anything substantial to help the people of Syria. The endless meetings, discussions and good intentions are not good enough. All of that is doing nothing to change the situation on the ground. Each of us represents a nation, but we also represent the aspirations of millions of people throughout the world. The Security Council has often been divided on the issue of Syria, but time is running out. The Syrian people cannot wait as the wheels of diplomacy spin in the mud of debates and dialogues. How many nations can say that they truly help protect civilians? Looking back on 2013, it is clear that very few had the courage to act on their ideals. When hostilities erupted in the Central African Republic, the African Union acted swiftly to avert a potential genocide.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate Lithuania on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. Jewish tradition places great importance on upholding the sanctity of life. The Talmud famously teaches that "Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world." The Talmud also goes on to teach that "Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world." In Syria, almost 130,000 worlds have been destroyed. We will soon mark the third anniversary of the Syrian conflict, and there is no end in sight. We cannot sit comfortably in this Chamber discussing the protection of civilians in armed conflict when, before our eyes, the crisis in Syria has reached catastrophic proportions.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Many members of this institution called the United Nations have failed to speak out in a united fashion and collectively condemn those who call for the annihilation of other Member States. From this Chamber, I want warn the people of the world not to close their eyes to the atrocities around them, nor turn away from the animosity that ensues. It is our responsibility to speak out against hatred clearly and unequivocally. Let us equip the next generation with words and not weapons; arm them with ideas and not radical ideologies; teach them tolerance and not terrorism. War is not inevitable. It is not a force of nature. Nor is it part of human nature. It can be prevented, but only if we stand together to denounce indifference and defend peace.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“In 1979, President Sadat stood courageously in the Knesset to forge a historic peace agreement between our two nations. But today, from the corners of Cairo to the archways of Alexandria, hatred is systemic: official media outlets advertise anti-Semitism; movie theatres frame Israel as the enemy; and maps eliminate Israel. It is not enough to have peace between Governments. We need genuine reconciliation between people. It is Governments' responsibility to educate their citizens towards tolerance, justice and mutual respect. It is not enough to claim that war is intolerable. It is not enough to pledge "never again". We must heed the warning signs and take action, beginning by uprooting incitement and hatred. The horrors of history are too often met with silence.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“Palestinian Authority media quotes Hitler, describes Jews as less than human and displays maps that erase Israel's existence. Today we are witnessing State-sanctioned incitement in Iran, where Ayatollah Khamenei corrupts the English language by describing Israel as a "cancerous tumor" and demanding our eradication "from the face of the Earth". This is a regime that has stood in this very institution and threatened Israel with annihilation. To all those who say "that was in the past", I answer that just two months ago, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran and chanted, "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". Even in Egypt, after 35 years of peace, the Government has failed to educate against incitement.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“Each of us has a role to play in the struggle for human rights and human dignity. We cannot tolerate Governments brutalizing their people. We cannot rest while barrel bombs are falling on Syrian citizens, executions are on the rise in Iran, and sexual violence is rampant in the Central African Republic. We must break down the wall of silence. We must overcome indifference. We must know what we stand for and then stand up for what we believe in: never indulge racism; never ignore incitement; never be silent when confronted with the warning signs of war. In schools, mosques and media across the Middle East, people are being taught to hate, vilify and dehumanize Israelis and Jews. Even as we speak, a generation of Palestinian children is being taught that murder is moral, racism is righteous and terror is tolerable.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“He knew what was coming, because the warning signs were evident. The radio waves were filled with ugly messages demonizing and dehumanizing the Tutsis. Vulnerable members of society became targets; children were conscripted and women were assaulted. A list was drawn up detailing the names of people to be killed. General Dallaire tried to warn the world, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. As photos and stories of the genocide emerged, the world was haunted by the atrocities it failed to prevent and once more pledged "never again." Just a few years later, it ignored the lessons of history, and the cycle of defamation, degradation and bloodshed was repeated in Darfur, From Cambodia to Bosnia to Somalia, the international community has failed and failed again to prevent the killing of innocent people.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“In the last century, this pattern of defamation, degradation and bloodshed has been the hallmark of an impending atrocity. Despite the pledges - even in this Chamber - of "never again", we have seen the pattern repeat itself over and over again. War does not begin with the firing of weapons or the deployment of troops. War begins when the seeds of hatred and intolerance are sown in the hearts of ordinary men and women. This April will mark 20 years since the Rwandan genocide - a genocide characterized not only by unspeakable brutality, but by the fact that it was entirely preventable. In the months leading up to the genocide, General Romeo Dallaire, commander of the United Nations peacekeeping Mission in Rwanda, warned that Hutu extremists were planning a campaign to exterminate the Tutsis.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“1 stand before the Council as a man who has seen and experienced war - as a soldier, as a diplomat and as the father of children who themselves have been sent to war. I speak to the Council today drawing from those experiences and as the son of a man who fled Nazi Germany to escape the annihilation of his people. Two days ago, the United Nations recognized its International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims ofthe Holocaust, commemorating the 6 million Jews, including one and a half million children, who were murdered by the Nazis. The Holocaust may have reached its barbaric climax in Auschwitz and Treblinka, but signs of the impending catastrophe were evident years earlier. Jews were systematically demonized: robbed of their dignity, then robbed of their possessions, and, finally, robbed of their lives.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“Tell them that tyranny will fail, tell them that peace is built on tolerance, and tell them that every man and every woman is entitled to equal rights and equal opportunities. As Winston Churchill said, "All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom honour hope". The international community must stand on the side of human rights and human dignity. We must speak up and speak out so that the people of the Middle East can finally enjoy freedom, honour and hope.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“The first is the future offered by Iran and Syria, a future of more extremism and greater violence. The second is the road towards equality, reform and stability. Study after study has shown that there is a clear connection between advancing peace and advancing equal rights. When a woman receives an education, her children are healthier and more likely to get an education. When a woman generates her own income, she reinvests 90 per cent in her family and community. But women can help drive a nation's economy only if they are allowed onto the driver's seat. As we begin the new year, the international community must call upon Arab leaders to choose the path of progress and abandon the road of repression.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“The Syrian Government has resorted to new depths of brutality by dropping barrel bombs packed with explosives, nails and other shrapnel on markets and hospitals. In just a few days, more than 700 people have been killed and over 3,000 injured. The State of Israel and the Jewish people are deeply troubled by the suffering of the Syrian people and are reaching out to help them. While some in the region are aiding the murderous Al-Assad regime, Israel is providing medical aid. Sunnis, Alawites and Shiites are running to Israel, the so-called enemy, because they know that Israel will treat anyone without prejudice and regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. We will continue to lend humanitarian assistance to the victims with open arms and an open heart. Today, the Middle East stands at a critical juncture. There are two roads before us.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“The Government of Lebanon cannot continue to ignore what is happening in southern Lebanon, and it can no longer ignore its international obligations under resolution 1701 (2006). Throughout December, armed terrorists fired shots across the Blue Line into northern Israel. In one incident, a member of the Lebanese Armed Forces shot Israeli soldier Shlomi Cohen in a ruthless and unprovoked attack. It is time for the Council to hold accountable all those who arm, train and harbour terrorists. It is time to speak out against those who callously disregard human life. As we have seen in Syria, the failure to do so has disastrous consequences. The war in Syria is approaching its fourth year, and the death toll continues to climb.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Today, that army has sent 2,000 fighters to butcher the Syrian people and shoot rockets into Israel. Hizbullah has positioned 60,000 missiles and rockets in the heart of southern Lebanon's civilian population. General Hajizadeh, a senior commander of the Aero-Space Forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, recently boasted that Hizbullah had improved its missile capabilities and could now hit and destroy any target in Israel. Hizbullah intentionally hides those missiles in the basements of homes, in the playgrounds of schools and in the back rooms of hospitals. In doing so, Hizbullah is committing a double war crime: first, by using Lebanese civilians as human shields and, secondly, by targeting Israeli citizens.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“We are barely three weeks into the new year, and Hamas has already launched 17 rockets at Israel, attacks that have closed schools and kept tens of thousands of children in southern Israel at home. The international community has yet to find the time to utter even a single word of condemnation of those attacks, attacks that could derail the peace process. It has also yet to condemn Hamas for deliberately exploiting children. Schools in Gaza have become the training ground for the next generation of terrorists. Last week, Hamas graduated 13,000 students from paramilitary camps geared at training children to fight Israel. In Lebanon, Iran has helped Hizbullah hijack the Lebanese State and transform it into an outpost for terror. For years, Hizbullah insisted that it needed a private army to defend Lebanon against, of course, Israel.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“It is a regime that crosses red lines, produces yellow cake and beats its citizens black and blue. Meanwhile, some in the international community are willing to serve Iran its yellow cake on a silver platter. Permitting Iran to keep its enrichment capabilities today means that Iran will retain its ability to break out and build a nuclear bomb tomorrow. Violence is encoded in the Iranian regime's DNA. It does not take a crime-scene investigator to see Iran's fingerprints on the violence erupting in parts of the Middle East. In the Gaza Strip, Iran backs the Hamas terrorist organization, which uses Palestinian schools, hospitals and mosques to launch rockets at Israeli citizens.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Rather than cleaning house, the new President believes that he can sweep Iran's atrocities under the Persian rug by introducing United Nations resolutions that condemn violence and extremism. Iran's so-called WAVE resolution, entitled "A world against violence and violent extremism" (resolution 68/127), may have made a splash at the United Nations, but messages of intolerance and violence continue to trickle down from the top. Behind Iran's smiling facade, President Rouhani and Ayatollah Khamenei continue to preach hatred and provoke hostility. Ayatollah Khamenei recently appeared on State television and delegitimized Israel, using disgusting profanity that does not bear repeating. The ink is barely dry on the interim nuclear agreement and Iran is already showing its true colours.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Many in the international community believed that the new Iranian President would set a new precedent. It has been almost six months since President Rouhani took office, and Iran is still persecuting minorities, imprisoning journalists and targeting political adversaries. The Iranian Government has executed more of its citizens, per capita, than any other Government. Last year alone, the regime executed almost 600 people, including 367 since President Rouhani took office in August. Iran does not confine its Violence and extremism to its own borders. From Buenos Aires to Burgas, Iran is the world's primary sponsor of terror. Just this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif paid tribute, on behalf of the Islamic Republic, at the grave of one of Hizbullah's most notorious murderers.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“When a giant storm struck last month, Israel delivered humanitarian aid and water pumps and facilitated the passage of fuel and cooking gas to Palestinians in need. Yet for every truckload in the name of coexistence, we seem to be feeding a Palestinian opposition that challenges our very existence. It is time for Palestinians leaders to lead; it is time for them to set a course towards coexistence; and it is time for them to build the Palestinian people up, rather than to tear Israel down. The Middle East is plagued by a reign oftyrants and a drought in leadership. Millions of people have taken to the streets demanding better lives, better economies and greater opportunities. The first peaceful protests in the region were in the streets of Tehran, where the Government brutalizes it citizens and throws innocent people into jail.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Each and every one present here must tell the Palestinians that there will never be peace as long as they refuse to recognize Israel as the nation State of the Jewish people and insist on a so-called right of return. Despite what many believe, Israel dedicates a great deal of its energy and resources to assisting the Palestinian people. Today, more than 100,000 Palestinians earn their living in Israel and their income constitutes more than 10 per cent of the Palestinian gross domestic product. Israel helps generate solutions to energize the Palestinian economy. We transfer millions of dollars in electricity, water and natural gas to power Palestinian homes, schools and hospitals.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Despite what is constantly heard, the core of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict has never been about borders or settlements. The major obstacle to peace remains the refusal of the Palestinian leaders to accept the Jewish State in any border. We will never hear President Abbas or any Palestinian leader utter the phrase "two States for two peoples". Let me understand that. The Palestinians call for an independent Palestinian State, but want millions of their people to flood the Jewish State. It will never happen. It is a complete non-starter. Many in this Chamber are very vocal in telling Israel what to do, but begin to stutter, mumble and fall silent when it comes to telling the Palestinians what they must do.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“That is a revelation. The truth is that Israel is an island of stability in a sea of tyranny. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose legacy is being celebrated today, once described Israel as "one of the great outposts of democracy in the world and a marvellous example of what can be done - how desert land can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security, and that security must be a reality". I think it should be obvious that the Violence and instability afflicting the Middle East have nothing to do with Israel. We must solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on its own merits because it is important for us. Solving the conflict is not a prescription for curing the epidemic of violence plaguing the Middle East.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“How many times have we heard that the Israeli- Palestinian conflict is the major conflict in the Middle East, and that if we solve that conflict we will solve all of the conflicts in the Middle East? Some in this Chamber have even repeated that fiction. Really? The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the major conflict in the Middle East? Wow. People who say that need an eye doctor to help them to see clearly - beginning, maybe, with the ophthalmologist from Damascus, Bashar al-Assad, who is butchering his people every day. I am sure that is really connected to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Shiites fighting Sunnis fighting Alawites; extremist groups battling one another in Libya, Yemen and Tunisia; Al-Qaida forces overrunning major cities in Iraq - all of that is, of course, caused by the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“In the face of the violence and bloodshed, we have yet to hear President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority utter a single word denouncing those attacks. They even remained silent when it was revealed that one of the bus bombers was, surprisingly, a member of the Palestinian police force. While most police forces have officers that uproot terrorism, that police officer was busy planting bombs. The Palestinian leadership has yet to learn that real peace requires real commitment. You cannot condemn terrorism to international media and congratulate terrorists on Palestinian media. You cannot victimize others and then insist that you are the victim. And you cannot use this forum to spread destructive messages and then expect constructive results.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“The international community must finally confront Palestinian leaders and publically demand an end to incitement. The glorification of terrorists, combined with unrelenting messages of hatred, are having deadly consequences. In 2013, there were 1,500 attacks against Israelis, 700 ofwhich occurred after peace negotiations had begun in July. In recent months there has been a sharp increase in terrorist attacks, including the murder of five Israelis. Just last month, a Palestinian sniper murdered 20-year-old Saleh Abu Latif, an Israeli Bedouin civilian. Two days later, a bomb exploded on a civilian bus in a suburb just outside Tel Aviv. Had it not been for the quick thinking of the bus driver and an alert passenger, dozens of people would have been killed. A successful attack could have had disastrous consequences for the peace talks.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“In a speech on Christmas day, President Abbas declared that Jesus was a "Palestinian messenger" and suggested that Israel was to blame for the exodus of Christians from the Holy Land. That is a blatant attempt to rewrite history and erase any connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. Today we are witnessing a mass exodus of Christians from the Palestinian territories and the Arab world because of the constant persecution and discrimination that they face by the Arab States. Abbas's made-up maps and mythical accounts couldjoin the fables of the book The Thousand and One Nights. We have already lost an entire generation to incitement. How many more children will grow up being taught hatred instead of peace, violence instead of tolerance, and martyrdom instead of mutual understanding?”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“From cradles to kindergartens and from schools to soccer stadiums, Palestinian children are besieged by messages of hate. They are born in hospitals named after violent Palestinian groups, attend schools named after terrorists and are taught from textbooks that equate Zionism with racism. In their free time, Palestinian children play on sports teams named after murderers and watch television programmes that teach that Jews are "our enemies and should be killed." Rather than condemning that incitement, the Palestinian Authority is amplifying the messages of intolerance. President Abbas' Fatah party regularly displays maps that erase Israel. In one map, for example, the Palestinian flag flies over the entire geographic area of the State of Israel. This map extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River and is entitled "Palestine".”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“The motto of the PA's pension plan seems to be "the more you slay, the more we pay." Is that coexistence? Is that tolerance? Is that mutual respect? Grieving Israelis watched as Palestinians celebrated men like Abu Harbish, who threw a firebomb at a bus, murdering 26-year-old Rachel Weiss and her three young children. To everyone in the Chamber I ask, How would you feel if you had to watch your family's murderers being celebrated? Would you call into question the so-called peaceful intentions of your neighbours? President Abbas could learn a great deal from King Hussein of Jordan about demonstrating his commitment to making peace. Since peace talks began in July, hundreds of examples of Palestinian incitement against Israelis and Jews have occurred.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“King Hussein told them, "I feel that if there is anything left in life, it will be to ensure that all the children enjoy the kind of peace and security that we never had in our times." That is the legacy that his son, King Abdullah, proudly continues today. Contrast that picture with a picture from just a few weeks ago. In December, Israel once again made the heartbreaking decision to release convicted Palestinian terrorists in an effort to advance the peace process. The released terrorists were given a heroes' welcome by the Palestinians and embraced by President Abbas. Murderers were met with fireworks and festivities and showered with candies and congratulations. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is rewarding terrorists with tens of thousands of dollars.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Israelis from across the political and religious spectrum still admire King Hussein's towering morality and his profound belief in the sanctity of life and the dignity of every human being. I and most Israelis will never forget the sight of King Hussein consoling the Israeli families whose children had been killed in a terrorist attack. After learning that a Jordanian soldier had murdered seven Israeli schoolgirls, King Hussein travelled to Israel to visit the homes of the bereaved families. One by one, he sat with the grieving parents, held their hands, offered words of condolence and hugged and kissed them.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“He was a fearless leader who knew the heavy price of war and was willing to take bold steps for peace. The State of Israel is still willing to take courageous steps for peace and is committed to serious and meaningful negotiations with the Palestinians. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the United States, in particular Secretary Kerry for his tireless devotion to promoting peace in our region. Twenty years ago, I recall watching King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin meet in the Arava Desert to sign the historic peace treaty between our two countries. At the signing, King Hussein said, "This is a peace with commitment. This is our gift to our peoples and the generations to come." Fifteen years after his death, King Hussein's legacy of peace lives on.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“The region was once admired for its inspiring art, striking architecture and significant innovations. Today, the world looks at the Middle East and sees a region shaken by violence. From the Arabian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, not a day goes by when we do not read about brutality and bloodshed, or new threats looming on the horizon. Amid that sea of hostility, Israel is an island of stability and democracy. It is a nation in which the majority governs, but the minority enjoys equal rights, a nation that embraces diversity and welcomes diverse opinions, a nation that leads the world in human rights and encourages women to be leaders. Israel is proud of its democracy and yearns for peace with its neighbours and security on its borders. The people of Israel are still mourning the loss of their legendary statesman and soldier, Ariel Sharon.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Before I begin, I want to express Israel's condolences on the death of United Nations personnel in Friday's terrorist attack in Kabul. There is no excuse for targeting civilians and United Nations workers. Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate Jordan on its election to the Security Council. We thank the Secretary-General, Foreign Minister Judeh, Mr. Jean Asselborn and Vice-Minister Cho Tae-yul for being here today. We also congratulate the new non-permanent members - Chad, Chile, Lithuania and Nigeria - onjoining the Council. As ambassadors, they are privileged to represent their countries in the Chamber, and I wish them luck. The Middle East is known as the cradle of civilization - the birth place of history's greatest empires and three world religions.”
2014-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7096 (2014) · source
“Over the course of his career, Einstein's music became the soundtrack of our nation, comforting us in times of sorrow and making our hearts soar in times ofjoy. One ofhis most famous songs is called "Me and You" and its lyrics are as follows: (spoke in Hebrew) "You and I will change the world. You and I, and others will join us. They have said it before. It doesn't matter, because you and I will change the world". (spoke in English) As we mourn the passing of one ofIsrael's icons, let the music that he left behind guide our efforts to make this world safer, stronger and more secure. Together, all of us here can change the world.”
2013-11-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7071 (2013) · source
“Israel fully implements resolution 1373 (2001) and has adapted its legislation to ensure compliance with resolution 1267 (1999), which established the important Office of the Ombudsperson of the Security Council Counter- Terrorism Committee and the Al-Qaida sanctions list. Israel also supports resolution 1540 (2004), recognizing that export-control systems and appropriate national counter-terrorism legislation are critical for preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and dual-use items. Finally, Israel supports the 2006 United Nations Global Terrorism Strategy and reiterates that all four pillars of that strategy should be treated as a whole. We look forward to the upcoming fourth review of that strategy. Today, millions of Israelis are mourning the passing of Arik Einstein, an Israeli cultural legend.”
2013-11-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7071 (2013) · source
“Millions of Palestinians are growing up in a society that portrays murderers and kidnappers as heroes. That culture of incitement has led to deadly consequences. Since the beginning of this year, there have been 1,163 terror attacks against Israelis and dozens of attempted kidnappings. No nation should have to stand alone in the face of global terrorism. Israel commends the CTED for its efforts to coordinate actions and monitor the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), which constitutes the centrepiece of United Nations effort to create a robust counter-terrorism regime.”
2013-11-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7071 (2013) · source