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

“The political wing raises the money to fund the military wing's terror activities. Not even the great Houdini could pull off the illusion that there is a difference between those two groups. Europe took a significant step in the right direction, but it must go one step further and demonstrate its unequivocal condemnation of terror. In doing so, it will prevent more innocent people from dying, it will bring justice to the victims of terror, and it will put a murderous group completely out of business. There are brave decisions that need to be made but, as the saying goes, timing is everything. While the United States has been working to bring the parties back to the negotiation table, the EU prefers to table harmful and divisive measures. Instead of setting a course towards peace, the EU is steering the Palestinians in the wrong direction.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“That semi-designation allows the EU to semi join the ranks of countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands, which long ago branded all of Hizbullah a terrorist group. Hizbullah is a terrorist industry working around the clock to expand into new markets. It has a business development arm devoted to money-laundering and fundraising. There is a human resources division that recruits new members. There is a marketing arm that uses the Internet to spread fundamental beliefs. And of course, there is an operations division that carries out its bloody campaigns. The organization is as sophisticated as it is interconnected. Any attempt to distinguish between Hizbullah's military wing and political wing, while politically convenient, is entirely impractical.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“Surprise, surprise - no matter how you look at it, they are both attached to the same body. Yesterday, the European Union (EU) agreed to label the military wing of Hizbullah a terrorist organization. The EU's decision is a welcome and important first step in shutting down the European channels that Hizbullah uses to launder money and fund its campaign of terror. For decades, Hizbullah has murdered countless innocent people from Africa to South America and from Asia to Europe. At long last, having realized how dangerous Hizbullah is and what it is capable of, the EU showed up late to the party to condemn the "Party of God". It was only after Hizbullah was found guilty of murdering Europeans in Bulgaria and attempting to do the same in Cyprus that the EU agreed to consider branding the military wing a terror organization.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“I suppose those same countries believe that Nasrallah was simply thinking of the best interests of the Lebanese people when he sent this army to kill his Arab brothers and sisters in Syria. And I suppose that the so-called stability that some States speak about can be seen from the car bombs and rockets that are exploding in the centre of Beirut. Nasrallah has been clear about his intentions. Last month he said, "We will bear any sacrifices and all the consequences" to keep Al-Assad in power. These are the deliberate words of a terrorist willing to drag Lebanon into the Sunni-Shiite divide and the broader region into war. Despite all that, some States continue to argue that there is a difference between Hizbullah's political and military wings. This is like trying to distinguish between your right hand and your left hand.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“The situation is made all the more dangerous by the fact that Al-Assad has received advanced weapons systems that Israel simply cannot allow. We cannot allow weapons of that nature to fall into the hands of terrorist groups like Hizbullah. Al-Assad's accomplice, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah, has also literally been getting away with murder in the Middle East. For years we have heard members of the international community, including members of this Council, argue that Hizbullah is a stabilizing force in Lebanon. They have insisted that Hizbullah is a political party representing the best interests of the Lebanese people. And they accepted the fact that Hizbullah has its own private army and is using it to hold Lebanon hostage.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“The violence that has shaken Syria is sending shock waves through our region. For two years, Israelis have lived with a war that threatens to spill over into their backyards. Mortar shells are raining down on our communities, and Syrian tanks and armoured vehicles have violated the buffer zone, in defiance of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement. Israel has shown maximum restraint and has no intention of interfering in the Syrian conflict, but we will not allow our citizens to be the ongoing victims of attacks. If provocations by the Syrian Government continue, Israel will have no choice but to respond accordingly. The situation on Israel's northern border is precarious. I have said it before, and I will say it again: Al-Assad has chemical weapons, and he has proven that he is willing to do anything to cling to power.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the Council for extending the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for another six months. The United Nations troops deployed in the region have faced daunting challenges. I also want to thank the Secretary-General, Mr. Ladsous and the States that have stepped forward to maintain the United Nations' strategic presence. The stories that have emerged from Syria have shocked the world. At this very moment, men, women and children are being tortured and murdered by the brutal Al-Assad regime. Under that regime, iron-fisted repression has been the rule of thumb for the Syrian people. It is time to hold BasharAl-Al-Assad accountable for his crimes. One hundred thousand people have been slaughtered, and there is no end in sight.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“Millions of people have taken to the streets demanding better lives, better economies and greater opportunities. The facade of the so-called Arab Spring has fallen away. In its place, there remains the bloodshed, repression, chaos and instability that have long defined the region. The Council must not be divided in denouncing those nations, groups and individuals that distance us from peace by amassing dangerous weapons, using terror to further their ideology, or murdering innocent people. The world is watching and waiting to see what the Council will do. The decisions - or, as is sometimes the case, indecisions - made in this Chamber will shape the world that we pass on to our children and grandchildren. The Council's responsibility is here and now.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“Let me begin by congratulating the delegation of the United States, led by Ambassador DiCarIo, for their leadership of the Security Council this month. I also want to thank the United States and especially Secretary of State John Kerry for their leadership and dedication to the peace process and for their efforts to resume the peace talks. Israel is committed to peace and welcomes the opportunity to resume direct negotiations. Israel faces many strategic challenges, but it is nonetheless willing to take risks to bring about an end to the conflict. Abraham Lincoln said, "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today". In 2013, one simply cannot say that one did not see, one did not hear, or one did not know. As we speak, the Middle East is in flames.”
2013-07-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7007 (2013) · source
“Attacks on journalists are not simply attacks on individuals; they are attacks on freedom - on freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Those who try to silence journalists are in fact trying to silence the voices of millions of people whose stories deserve to be told.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003 (2013) · source
“But despite all the challenges that go hand in hand with an independent media, there is no doubt in my mind that the benefits outweigh the costs. As Thomas Jefferson said, "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost". Freedom, democracy and tolerance are a heavy burden, and Israel is very proud to carry them. With more reporters and human rights activists per capita than anywhere on the planet, Israel understands that a society cannot truly be free until its citizens have the right to ask questions, challenge the status quo and openly speak their minds. Democracy, with all its drawbacks, is worth far more than any dehumanizing and destructive dictatorship.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003 (2013) · source
“Journalists in Israel do not have to fear the arbitrary arrests, imprisonment and executions common in the totalitarian States that make up the rest of our region. The very liberties that Israel provides are both a blessing and a curse. While we are immensely proud of our democratic institutions, they often result in the burden of condemnation falling on Israel. After all, foreignjournalists would much sooner face news cameras in Tel Aviv than bullets in Damascus or torture in Tehran. Some reporters choose to focus their scrutiny on the Middle East's only real democracy. Rather than risking their safety, they flock to Israel in the knowledge there will be few repercussions and quite possibly a Pulitzer Prize for their efforts.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003 (2013) · source
“Yet, in much ofthe Middle East their voices and stories are being stifled. By restricting those voices, the Arab States are restricting their ability to develop their societies and improve the lives of their citizens. The scrutiny that goes hand in hand with an independent media is essential to holding Governments accountable to their citizens. Every voice must have the chance to be heard, especially the voices of dissident and marginalized members of society. In Israel, freedom of the press is woven into the very fabric of our democratic society. As the Council knows, we have no shortage of media outlets that report on every facet of society and very often make demands of our Government and our leaders. Our commitment to the free exchange of ideas has made Israel a destination of choice for many reporters.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003 (2013) · source
“Attacks on the media are increasing all over the world, but nowhere is it more dangerous to be ajournalist than in the Middle East. Every day, people all over the globe turn on televisions, open newspapers and browse the Internet to follow events unfolding in the Middle East. That information comes to us from the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to document the bloody insurgencies and revolutions erupting throughout the region. Not only do journalists have to contend with censorship, intimidation and abduction, they are now becoming the deliberate targets of violence. From Baghdad to Damascus and from Tehran to Khartoum, journalists are being beaten, raped, tortured and killed. Journalism is the public loudspeaker for the brave men and women who have taken to the streets demanding to be heard.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003 (2013) · source
“Thank you, Madam President, for convening this debate and bringing awareness and attention to an important subject. Ambassador DiCarlo, may I also add, on a personal note, that it is my distinct pleasure to give this statement while you are presiding over this meeting. So far this year, 26 journalists have been killed and 175 imprisoned trying to do theirjob. Instead of telling the story, journalists are increasingly becoming the story itself. We must be united in our condemnation of those who seek to silence the press and hide the truth. As we speak, the Middle East is in flames. From the Straits of Gibraltar to the Straits of Hormuz, people are crying out for democratic reforms and freedoms. The facade of the so-called Arab Spring has fallen away. In its place remain the repression, chaos and confusion that have long defined the region.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003 (2013) · source
“Numerous judicial findings from around the world attest to the magnitude and gravity of Hizbullah's global reach. Yet, that still isn't enough for some European Union members to call Hizbullah what it is: a terrorist organization. It operates with impunity on European soil, yet some European lawmakers continue to insist that it is a social-services organization. Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations sets out the Security Council's powers to maintain peace. There is no greater threat to international stability than those who use fundamentalism to advance their personal ideologies and agendas. It is time for the international community to unite and put terrorism out of business. The Security Council must further utilize Chapter VII to force terrorist groups to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“In Gaza, Iran is funding, training and arming Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other terrorists. Iran has helped Hizbullah build its arsenal to unprecedented levels in Lebanon, amassing 50,000 deadly missiles. Iranian agents have been involved in attacks from Azerbaijan to India and from Thailand to Kenya. Earlier this week, a Kenyan court sentenced two Iranians to life in prison on terror-related charges. Now we face the frightening possibility - and I wouldliketoemphasizethisveryclearly-thatHizbullah could soon get its hands on Syria's vast stockpiles of chemical weapons. The threat of game-changing weapons reaching Hizbullah is substantiated by Nasrallah himself, who yesterday said "Syria will give the resistance special weapons it never had before". The Council must act today, not tomorrow. We will not allow Hizbullah to test our resolve.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“Israel is committed to sharing the knowledge and experience that comes from years of combating terrorism. Through our ongoing technical cooperation and capacity-building projects, we seek to further contribute to the international community's counter- terrorism efforts. Each year, Israel invites counter- terrorism specialists from other nations to learn about the latest technological advances and operational tactics in combating terrorism. Those efforts establish strong ties between responsible law enforcement agencies worldwide. Countering violent extremist groups requires ongoing collaboration among all of us. In too many corners ofthe planet, all ofthe elements are in place for extremists to grow the next generation of terrorists. In this very Council, many States offer justification for certain terrorists while condemning others.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“We are painfully familiar with the exploitation of seemingly charitable funds by terrorist groups. Hamas manages a wide array of groups that claim to be social services organizations. I suppose that if one considers laundering money to be a way of cleaning up the neighborhood, then that is accurate. Israel fully supports resolution 1540 (2004) and the renewal of its mandate. Export-control systems and appropriate national counter-terrorism legislation are critical to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and dual-use items. Finally, we welcome the recent extension of the mandate of the Ombudsperson of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and are encouraged by the recent improvements introduced in resolution 2083 (2012).”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“We support all four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which should be treated as a whole. Israel commends the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) for its ongoing contributions to coordinate action against terrorism. I want to thank CTED's departing Executive Director, Mike Smith, for his many years of excellent service and leadership. We also extend congratulations to CTED for concluding its review of Member States' implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). Israel supports every effort to make the dialogue between CTED and Member States more simple, transparent and effective. Israel closely followed CTED's March briefing on protecting non-profit organizations from terrorist financiers.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“It uses the Internet to promote every branch of the industry, from recruitment to instruction and from financing to public relations. And of course, there is the operations division that equips followers with hateful ideology and deadly weapons. It takes an industry to defeat an industry. Israel is working closely with many States and regional organizations to advance counterterrorism cooperation. That reflects our beliefthat terrorism can be effectively confronted only through international cooperation. No State should stand alone in that mission. The counter-terrorism Committees are essential to global efforts to isolate terrorists. Israel appreciates their dedicated work, as well as that of other relevant United Nations agencies.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“Today we know that terrorism can strike anywhere at any time. It is a growth industry working around the clock to expand into new markets. Its mission is to undermine democracies, and its vision is to instil fear through violence. Like an industry, terrorism has a business development arm devoted to money laundering and fundraising. Terrorist organizations frequently have a foot in the global narcotics market, operating networks that span from West Africa to the Middle East to Latin America. Terrorism has a human resources division that actively recruits new members. Across the Middle East, terrorism and martyrdom are being glorified through incitement that is disseminated in schools, mosques and media outlets. Terrorist organizations also have a well-funded marketing arm.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“I would like to congratulate you, Ambassador Menan, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month, as well as to thank you for convening this important meeting. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Chairs of the Committees for their informative briefings earlier and for their professional work. Israel remains under constant threat from terrorist organizations. Rockets rain down on our towns and cities, launched by Hamas in the south. On our northern border, Hizbullah is exploiting the crisis in Syria to further undermine regional stability. Israel has confronted terrorism since well before its founding. For years, terrorism was an abstract concept for many in the international community. They believed acts of terror were a limited problem best dealt with locally.”
2013-05-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6964 (2013) · source
“Those are the blueprints that need to be followed by Israelis and Palestinians, and indeed by all people in the Middle East, if we are to live in peace, security and prosperity.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“It is naive to think that peace can come from grand statements and vague promises. It would be like trying to build a new house on a shaky foundation - the whole structure is at risk of collapsing. For all those who believed that the so-called Arab Spring would result in the blossoming of a new Middle East, take note - democracy has not taken root. Instead, what we have seen is more bloodshed and more violence. To truly establish peace, we must build a structure that can withstand the rough winds of change that are sweeping the region. Winston Churchill said, "We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." The architecture of peace has never been clearer. As we face historic challenges in the Middle East, it has never been more important to strengthen the pillars of tolerance, mutual recognition and security.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“It operates with impunity on European soil, yet some European lawmakers continue to insist it is a social services organization. It does not take a Sherlock Holmes to understand the obvious facts of the case. The foregoing are just some of the threats Israel faces in the region. Any peace agreement must be based on reassurances for the security and safety of the citizens of the world's only Jewish State. Since Israel was born 65 years ago, we have been forced to fight six wars in six decades to defend our very existence. We know peace comes at a price. We want peace, but not at any cost. We will not turn a blind eye in the face of the threats that surround us. Now is the time to put aside the distracting sideshows of the debate and focus on how we can lay the foundation for a genuine, lasting peace.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“In Lebanon, Hizbullah is building an army equipped with 50,000 missiles - more than many NATO members possess. They may now have access to one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons in the world. Hizbullah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, claims that he needs such an army to defend Lebanon against Israel. The truth is that Nasrallah wants an army to more effectively butcher his Arab brothers and sisters. Hizbullah does not feel the need to limit its brand of terrorism exclusively to the Middle East. Last month, a court in Cyprus jailed a member of Hizbullah for planning terrorist attacks against civilians. Yet that still is not enough for some European Union members to call Hizbullah what it is - a terrorist organization.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“The Iranian nuclear programme continues to advance at the speed of an express train. The international community's efforts to stop it are moving at the pace ofa local train, pausing at every stop for some nations to get off and others to get on. Last month, there was yet another round of negotiations to reason with Iran and convince it to abandon its nuclear programme. Just days after negotiations ended, Iran announced two key infrastructure projects. Surprise, surprise - both of them expanded Iran's ability to process uranium. At the same time that Iran is advancing its nuclear ambitions, it is providing guidance to Bashar Al-Assad to increasingly effectively butcher the Syrian people. As we speak, Iran is sending Hizbullah fighters to Syria to help execute their bloody plans on the ground.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“Yet earlier this month, the representative of Iran stood in front of the General Assembly to share Iran's so-called concerns with the Arms Trade Treaty. He had the audacity to say that the transfer of arms to the Middle East has gravely affected the security and welfare of the people of this region and led to many lost lives in recent years (see A/67/PV.71). That is quite an interesting statement to hear from a representative of Iran. It is like the Mafia complaining that the crime rate in New York is too high. The Iranian regime spins lies almost as quickly as it is spinning centrifuges. The ayatollahs are threatening to combine their extremist ideology with missiles and nuclear weapons. Make no mistake - Iran's ambition for nuclear weapons is the single greatest threat to the Middle East and the entire world.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“After 10 years and more than 12,000 rockets, the Security Council has not said one word to condemn the perpetrators. Israeli citizens want real assurances for their security. The situation in Gaza provides us with a valuable lesson concerning any future arrangement in the West Bank. As rockets are flying out of Gaza, new and more sophisticated weapons are flowing in. Just this month, security forces detained a vessel off the southern coast of the Sinai peninsula carrying 60,000 rifles, RPG launchers, machine guns, hand grenades and ammunition. Ships like those routinely smuggle arms to Gaza and to Sinai-based terrorist groups. It is no secret that Iran is the primary supplier of weapons and the greatest sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“In an interview last month with the Russian network RT, Abbas went so far as to say that he did not see much difference between the policies of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Let me remind Mr. Abbas of a simple truth. Hamas and its extremist ideology are the enemies of peace. Their ideas do not empower Palestinians to build a brighter future; they enslave them in a darkened past. There will be no peace until our neighbours recognize Israel as a Jewish State that is here to stay. Pillar number three holds that peace must be built on security. At present, the cities and communities of southern Israel remain under fire from terrorists in Gaza, despite the fact that there has not been a single Israeli settlement in Gaza since 2005.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“Surprisingly enough, according to Norway's Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Palestinian Authority misled Oslo when it claimed Norwegian aid money had not been used to provide salaries for convicted terrorists in Israeli prisons. The Palestinian Authority has been using those types of underhanded tactics to funnel money to convicted murderers with blood on their hands. Last year, as the Palestinian Authority was threatening to delay paying its civil servants, it somehow managed to find the funds to triple - to triple - the monthly payment to terrorists. So while President Abbas speaks about peace, he continues to publicly embrace Hamas. Abbas recently renewed his efforts to create a unity deal with Hamas, a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's destruction.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“Last November, the Palestinian Authority built a monument in a central square in Bethlehem depicting the boundaries of a Palestinian State. That State extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River. Israel was literally wiped off the map. Conveniently enough - surprise, surprise - when foreign dignitaries visit Bethlehem, the monument is removed from its position and taken in for so-called repairs. As the old saying goes, "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time". The Observer of the State of Palestine just now cited things about Norway's aid to the Palestinian Authority.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“Since King David laid the cornerstone of a palace in Jerusalem 3,000 years ago, Jews have lived continuously in the land of Israel. They saw the rise and fall of the Babylonian and Roman Empires. They endured crusades and pogroms until the the Jewish State was re-established. I have said it before and I will say it again - Israel is committed to two States for two peoples. In 1947, we readily accepted the United Nations plan to create two States in the region, an Arab State and a Jewish State. At the time, Arab leaders rejected the existence of a Jewish State. Sixty-five years later, one still never hears Palestinian leaders speak about two States for two peoples. While President Abbas claims to march steadily towards peace, his actions fail to fall in step.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“Hamas has banned co-education, arrested women for riding bicycles and prohibited women from appearing in public with their hair uncovered. Earlier this month, the Hamas police pulled dozens of young men off the streets and brutally beat them for the so-called "offence" of wearing trousers that were too tight. I would say that that is taking the phrase "fashion police" to a completely new level. Month after month, the Council meets to discuss what is wrong in the Middle East. Where are the concerned voices in that debate for all the hate being taught to Palestinian children? Where are the cries denouncing the incitement that poisons the wells of peace? The second pillar is that peace must be built on a clear recognition that Israel is the nation-State of the Jewish people.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“They learn geography from atlases that erase Israel from the map. Gaza kindergarten graduations feature terrorist dress-up. Five-year-old children stage plays that glorify jihadists and suicide bombers. Instead of learning their ABCs, Palestinian children are being taught hate. Flip through the channels of Palestinian Authority television and one might find a children's programme featuring a young girl reciting a poem that calls Jews "Allah's enemies, the sons of pigs [who] rap[e] women in city squares". Apparently, that is what passes for "educational television" under the Palestinian Authority. How can we expect children in Gaza to learn tolerance when their own leaders repress them day in and day out?”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“Anything less would be a peace based on illusions and delusions that is bound to crumble. The first pillar is that peace must be built on a foundation of education for tolerance and coexistence. Peace should be fostered in homes, taught in schools, nourished by leaders and woven into the very fabric of society. The Charter of the United Nations urges nations to "practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours". It does not take an urban planner to realize that the Palestinians are missing the blueprints to build a peaceful neighbourhood. From cradles to kindergarten classrooms and from the fields of summer camps to the fields of football stadiums, messages ofintolerance fill Palestinian society. Under the Palestinian Authority, students learn history from textbooks that glorify terrorists.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“It affirmed: "We offer peace and unity to all the neighbouring States and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all." Israel wants peace. Not a day has gone by in the past 65 years on which the people of Israel have not yearned for peace. Last month, during his visit to Israel, President Obama said "I know Israel has taken risks for peace. I believe that the Israeli people do want peace". The Jewish tradition teaches that the world is sustained on three pillars: truth, justice and peace. Today, I would like to speak about the three pillars upon which a true and lasting peace in our region must stand. Those pillars of peace are the foundation that must remain standing in the shifting sands of the Middle East.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“Before I begin, I would like to extend our condolences to the people of France following yesterday's bombing of its embassy in Libya. We also extend our condolences to the American people following the attack in Boston last week. Our prayers are with the victims, families and citizens of both countries. I want to congratulate His Excellency Ambassador Eugene-Richard Gasana and the delegation of Rwanda on their leadership of the Security Council this month. Last Tuesday, the State of Israel marked 65 years as the free and independent homeland of the Jewish people. On that historic day, six and a half decades ago, the leaders of the new Jewish State issued a declaration of independence.”
2013-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6950 (2013) · source
“We have held many debates in these halls on the protection of civilians. It is now our responsibility to transform those words into direct and concrete action. The numbers ofcivilian casualties across the globe grow on a daily basis. We cannot allow our indifference to those numbers to grow and grow alongside them. Today, I urge the Council to heed the simple yet immortal words of Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The only difference between those two wings is that the political wing negotiates the sum of drug cartel money that the military wing later uses to purchase weaponry. It does not take a Nobel Peace Prize laureate to realize that we are not exactly dealing with a selfless humanitarian organization here. One does not need the fortitude ofWilliam Wallace, of Braveheart fame, to understand that one should do the right thing here. The EU must find the moral and political courage to place Hizbullah on its list of terrorist organizations. It must send a clear message that Hizbullah can no longer target its civilians with impunity. The voices of the victims of Hizbullah terror call on us to take collective action and work together to bankrupt the world's most dangerous charity.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Despite such activities, however, Hizbullah remains conspicuously absent from the European Union (EU) list of recognized terrorist organizations. In fact, many States, including some represented in this Chamber, continue to classify Hizbullah as a charity. Not since Napoleon invaded Russia has the European continent seen such an astonishing lack of foresight. Let us make no mistake - Hizbullah's sole purpose, its raison d'etre, is to commit terrorist acts, both inside and outside the Middle East. Calling Hizbullah a charity is like calling Al-Qaida an urban planning organization because ofits desire to level tall buildings. Some European lawmakers continue to bend over backwards attempting to differentiate between Hizbullah's military and political wings. That is an exercise in futility.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Iran's arm extends from Syria into Lebanon, where it has helped Hizbullah amass 50,000 missiles - more than many NATO members possess - and transform the Lebanese State into an outpost for terror. Hizbullah intentionally places its arms in civilian areas, using the entire population of Lebanon as a human shield. Its idea of investing in the next generation is to stockpile its weaponry in the immediate vicinity of schools and playgrounds. Hizbullah's reign of terror extends far beyond the Middle East. Its fingerprints have been identified on attacks on all five continents, from Kenya to Argentina to Thailand. Last week, Bulgarian authorities also identified Hizbullah as the culprit behind the July bus bombing in Burgas, Bulgaria, that killed five Israelis and one Bulgarian citizen. That was the deadliest attack on European soil since 2005.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Every day that passes before the Council takes firm and decisive action in Syria is another day during which countless civilians lose their lives and countless more lose hope. Those of us sitting here today must begin speaking loudly, clearly and unequivocally against the horrors of the Al-Assad Government. The ophthalmologist from Damascus cannot continue to blind us to his crimes. Al-Assad is not alone. On his advisory board sits Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who gives him guidance on how to slaughter civilians more effectively. With the blessings of Iran, its patron, Hizbullah has provided arms, training and logistical support for tens of thousands of Al-Assad's men. It has assisted the Syrian military in cracking down on dissidents so that Al-Assad can cling to power.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Today, my thoughts are with the students of Aleppo University, who were indiscriminately slaughtered by the Syrian military last month because of the school's reputation as the university of the revolution. They are with Sayyad Ali, who fled Syria in December and now lives with his family in a tent in an abandoned part of northern Lebanon. He is just one of over 800,000 Syrians who have fled the Al-Assad regime since 2011. Across the Middle East, they are being forced to bear the harsh storms of winter with the most meagre of shelter and provisions. For those refugees, the only thing more painful than the cold weather they experience is the cold shoulder they receive from the international community. The clock is ticking.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“At the outset, allow me to express my appreciation to you, Mr. President, for convening this open debate as testimony to the importance that the Republic of Korea places on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, a subject of great significance to the international community. Eight months have passed since our most recent debate in this Chamber on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (see S/PV.6790). Since then, the death toll in Syria has quadrupled, from 14,000 in June to over 60,000 now. The civilians caught as targets of the Al-Assad regime continue to cry out for protection. Every one ofthose cries that goes unanswered highlights our failures.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The silence of the Council in the face of terror does no favours for those seeking a brighter future. It is time to do some soul-searching in the Chamber. The Council needs a Global Positioning System to find its moral centre in the debate on the Middle East. Just weeks after the Council's founding, Sir Winston Churchill outlined the challenges facing us today. He said the following about the newly formed United Nations: "We must make sure that its work is fruitful, that it is a reality and not a sham, that it is a true temple of peace...and not merely a cockpit in a Tower of Babel".”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906 (2013) · source
“On that day, the Council clearly defined its mission, namely, to advance global peace and security, to oppose tyranny and to safeguard the rights of all people. It would be a true understatement to say that the monthly debate on the Middle East falls far short of that standard. Most of the millions in our regions who live under oppression, fear and violence are completely ignored in the debate. They are cast aside to make way for a litany of half-truths, myths and outright lies about Israel. Repeating a lie does not make it true. Repeating a constant flood of falsehoods does not and cannot change the facts. The simple fact remains that Israel is not what is wrong in the Middle East. Israel is what is right in the Middle East. Make no mistake: cynical politics do no favours for the Arab world.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906 (2013) · source
“The resolution not only contradicts agreed terms of reference, it also seeks to predetermine some issues explicitly reserved for negotiation, while ignoring others such as security and the end of claims, which are core components of any future agreement. The campaign that the Palestinian leadership has waged at the United Nations is a false idol for the Palestinian people. There is only one route to statehood. It does not travel through this Chamber in New York. It runs through direct negotiations between Jerusalem and Ramallah. There are no shortcuts, no quick fixes, no instant solutions. Peace must be negotiated; it cannot be imposed. Exactly 67 years ago this week, on 17 January 1946, the Security Council held its first meeting at Westminster in London.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906 (2013) · source
“Any efforts to alter the Palestinian status outside the agreed negotiating framework directly violate the agreements between the parties. Those agreements include specific limitations on the Palestinian capacity in the sphere of foreign relations. They contain express obligations to resolve all outstanding issues through negotiations, and to refrain from any step that seeks to alter the legal status of the West Bank and Gaza pending the outcome of negotiations. Acting to facilitate violations of those agreements undermines the credibility of the Organization, which has repeatedly affirmed that a Palestinian State can only emerge as a result of bilateral negotiations. Moreover, resolution 67/19 cannot serve as acceptable terms of reference for future negotiations.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906 (2013) · source