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Gordon Brown arriving at the Knesset on Monday, flanked by Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik. (Daniel Bar-On / Jini)
Last update - 19:16 21/07/2008
Brown to Knesset: Iran must suspend nuclear bid or face global isolation
By Haaretz Staff and News Agencies
Tags: Knesset, Israel, U.K. 

In the first ever Knesset address by a British prime minister, Gordon Brown on Monday condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for the destruction of Israel as "abhorrent," and vowed that Tehran's bid to acquire nuclear weapons would not be allowed to pass.

It is "totally abhorrent for the president of Iran to call for Israel to be wiped from the map," Brown told lawmakers. "Iran has a clear choice to make: suspend its nuclear weapons program and accept our offer... or face isolation... not just of one nation, by all nations around the world."

The British leader hailed Israel's successes in the 60 years since its establishment as the manifestation of "boundless capacity of mind and spirit," adding that "no other country has accomplished as much in such a short time."
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He condemned recent efforts by British unions to implement a boycott against Israel on the grounds of its treatment of the Palestinians.

"The British government will stand full square against any boycotts of Israel or Israeli academic institutions," he said.

Brown also voiced his support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, relaunched at a U.S.-hosed summit in Annapolis, Maryland last year, telling the Knesset that he felt "a historic and lasting peace is within your grasp." He added that he favored a two-state solution with a Palestinian state that "accepts Israel as a friend and a neighbor."

Prior to Brown's address, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert welcomed the visiting premier and also stressed that Israel could not reconcile with a nuclear Iran.

"From our point of view, we are talking about an intolerable situation, one with which we cannot reconcile ourselves," Olmert said.

He added however that Iran was not just a menace for Israel, but a "global threat."

"The state of Israel is not asking for anything else but peace," he said, adding that although Israel's conflict with the Palestinians was "bitter," it was "not unsolvable" and that although there were "still profound disagreements" in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, these were "bridgeable."

Olmert also praised Britain's "tough stance" in the global struggle against terrorism.

The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have offered Iran financial and diplomatic incentives to halt nuclear activity which the West fears is a cover for making bombs. Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed solely at generating electricity.

After talks in Geneva ended in a stalemate on Saturday, the six major powers gave Iran two weeks to answer calls to rein in its nuclear activities or face tougher sanctions.

Rice: Iran wasn't serious at Geneva nuclear talks

Speaking of the talks in Switzerland, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday accused Iran of not being serious, despite the presence of a senior U.S. diplomat, and warned it may soon face new sanctions.

In her first public comments since Saturday's meeting, Rice said Iran had given the run-around to envoys from the group of "five plus one" ? the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany.

"We expected to hear an answer from the Iranians but, as has been the case so many times with the Iranians, what came through was not serious," Rice told reporters aboard her plane as she flew to the United Arab Emirates.

"They can't go and stall and make small talk about culture, they have to make a decision", she said. "People are tired of the Iranians and their stalling tactics."

British government officials traveling with Brown said if Iran did not accept the incentives, the next step would be to ratchet up sanctions against Tehran, possibly including sanctions on Iran's oil and gas industry.

They said such sanctions could seek to target Iran's domestic energy market by making it difficult for Iran to obtain equipment and spare parts for its refineries.

Tensions between Iran and the West have helped drive up crude oil prices to record highs in recent months.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening, Brown said Iran had broken the terms of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and had "misled the international community about the scale of their preparations for weaponry."

The United States has refused to rule out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to resolve the nuclear row.

Israel, long assumed to have nuclear arms, has sworn to prevent Iran from obtaining atomic weapons. An Israeli air force drill last month raised speculation it was planning an attack.

A senior Iranian official was quoted this month as saying Iran would destroy Israel and 32 U.S. military bases in the Middle East if the Islamic Republic was attacked.

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      1.   Psst...don`t ask the Knesset about Israel`s stock of nukes 09:34  |  Clickfool 21/07/08
      2.   Brown`s worthless. 10:10  |  Michael 21/07/08
      3.   BROWN, Don`t forget to call for inspections of the Israeli nukes! 10:44  |  PADDY 21/07/08
      4.   Clickfool hurumphing... again.... 10:46  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      5.   Britain`s role as honest peace broker 10:46  |  mark 21/07/08
      6.   Yes, but what did he really say? 10:49  |  Natallie Durson 21/07/08
      7.   # 1 Clickfool 10:50  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 21/07/08
      8.   Brown doesn`t speak for Britain. 10:56  |  Michael 21/07/08
      9.   clickfool (one and only) 10:57  |  ChanahS 21/07/08
      10.   brown is a lying nonentity 11:05  |  raymond deane 21/07/08
      11.   Michael in UK 11:32  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      12.   A very poor judge in Tumbridge Wells 10 12:04  |  Michael 21/07/08
      13.   We have unquestionable rights on the Land of Israel. 12:05  |  Jean Van Daem 21/07/08
      14.   We have unquestionable rights on the Land of Israel. 12:06  |  Jean Van Daem 21/07/08
      15.   Michael in UK 12:41  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      16.   #11 Michael what makes you think peace is obtainable w/ pals? 13:04  |  petra 21/07/08
      17.   G-D BLESS AMERICA. G-D BLESS ISRAEL. 13:06  |  Petra. 21/07/08
      18.   Futile repetition of Nonsense 13:07  |  El Caro 21/07/08
      19.   British public walking different path to Brown 13:24  |  David king 21/07/08
      20.   Yesterday the BBC reported that Brown met Peres in Tel-Aviv while 13:28  |  Reuven 21/07/08
      21.   15 Because the Pals are human Petra. 13:31  |  Michael 21/07/08
      22.   Judge 15. So ask yourself... 13:39  |  Michael 21/07/08
      23.   To El Caro 13:40  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      24.   Michael in UK 13:43  |  Joe 21/07/08
      25.   Pitiful Gordon 13:55  |  Ben Alofs 21/07/08
      26.   Jean van Daem repeats his old San Remo lie # 13 14:01  |  Clickfool 21/07/08
      27.   Arab+leftist attempts to get West to pressure Israel have flopped 14:03  |  Sam 21/07/08
      28.   Are you insane, Joe? # 23 14:05  |  Clickfool 21/07/08
      29.   Joe 23 You may be right but... 14:07  |  Michael 21/07/08
      30.   The British people agrees with Brown on this issue 14:17  |  Briton 21/07/08
      31.   Mr. Brown, while you are there, 14:19  |  Dav 21/07/08
      32.   Click questioning Joe`s sanity 14:21  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      33.   British PM`s Visit 14:22  |  Scottish Lady 21/07/08
      34.   For alleged "Briton" # 30 14:24  |  Clickfool 21/07/08
      35.   Brown can say what he wants,but Iran is on its way to 14:25  |  lakshmi 21/07/08
      36.   UK-Israel relationship 14:25  |  Dave 21/07/08
      37.   Joe 24 Israel`s clear message to Pals - fight us, don`t talk. 14:38  |  Michael 21/07/08
      38.   No 34 14:39  |  Scottish Lady 21/07/08
      39.   lakshmi also having a laugh.... 14:44  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      40.   The biggest farce of all time 14:45  |  Said 21/07/08
      41.   BUSH 14:48  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 21/07/08
      42.   For The Judge # 32 14:53  |  Clickfool 21/07/08
      43.   Said-Which of 22 Arab governments is not a farce? 14:55  |  Sam 21/07/08
      44.   29 Michael did you forget the greenhouses that Gazans destroyed? 15:09  |  THe Equalizer 21/07/08
      45.   Mr. Brown.. Be even-handed 15:10  |  Ray 21/07/08
      46.   What the hell!? 15:15  |  Persian Hero 21/07/08
      47.   Clickfool 15:18  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      48.   Michael on fighting 15:25  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      49.   Read 41. Looks like Bush finally learned to type then. 15:26  |  Michael 21/07/08
      50.   Clickfool`s `poll` 15:28  |  The Judge 21/07/08
      51.   #35, Lakshmi...still delusional as ever1 15:31  |  DR 21/07/08
      52.   Clickfool #28 15:32  |  Joe 21/07/08
      53.   Poor, poor embittered Brits 15:32  |  utagawa 21/07/08
      54.   Clickfool 34 15:33  |  ChanahS 21/07/08
      55.   Michael 29 15:36  |  ChanahS 21/07/08
      56.   Said 15:39  |  ChanahS 21/07/08
      57.   Clickfool 42 15:40  |  ChanahS 21/07/08
      58.   Clickfool 42 15:41  |  ChanahS 21/07/08
      59.   Another one of Israel`s wind up dolls 15:41  |  Harold 21/07/08
      60.   Michael #37 15:44  |  Joe 21/07/08
      61.   Clickfool, I told you some time ago 15:50  |  dovale 21/07/08
      62.   MORE EMPTY WORDS LIKE THERE WILL BE GLOBAL ISOLATION;NOT;NOTTA 16:03  |  glenna 21/07/08
      63.   For no1 CLICKFOOL 16:13  |  chasaboy 21/07/08
      64.   brown`s speech 16:19  |  curious george 21/07/08
      65.   #35 Lakshmi 16:20  |  H 21/07/08
      66.   God bless China, Russia, Europe and Iran 16:28  |  Mark B. 21/07/08
      67.   Judge 48. You have to back up your point of view. 16:32  |  Michael 21/07/08
      68.   @56 ChanahS 16:47  |  Mark B. 21/07/08
      69.