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Last update - 09:02 24/09/2009
Diplomats walk out as Ahmadinejad rails against Israel in UN
By Agencies and Haaretz Service
Tags: israel news, Ahmadinejad, UN 

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Israel of "inhuman policies" in the Palestinian territories and of dominating world political and economic affairs in his speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

Ahmadinejad assailed Israel for what he said was a barbaric attack on the Gaza Strip last winter. He also accused the West of hypocrisy, saying it preached democracy, but violated its fundamental principles.

Addressing Israel, the Iranian leader said, "The awakening of nations and the expansion of freedom worldwide will no longer allow them to continue their hypocrisy and vicious attitudes."
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"How can one imagine that the inhuman policies in Palestine may continue?" Ahmadinejad continued. "How can crimes of the occupiers against defenseless women and children and destruction of their homes, farms, hospitals and schools be supported unconditionally by certain governments?"

The Iranian leader said it was time for the world to respond. "It is no longer acceptable that a small minority would dominate the politics, economy and culture of major parts of the world by its complicated networks, and establish a new form of slavery, and harm the reputation of other nations, even European nations and the U.S., to attain its racist ambitions," he said.

Ahmadinejad spoke to a half-empty chamber as he sought to cast himself as a beleaguered champion of the developing world, that he portrayed as under attack from rapacious capitalism.

At the same time, the Iranian leader issued stinging attacks on the United States and its allies without calling them by name, prompting a walkout by the U.S. delegation.

At times, Ahmadinejad struck a softer tone, declaring that Tehran was prepared to warmly shake all those hands which are honestly extended to us. He peppered his speech with religious references, invoking the prophets of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Ahmadinejad made a passing reference to the nuclear issue - call for global nuclear disarmament - but most of the speech focused on his usual themes - scathing verbal attacks on Israel and the West.

Ahmadinejad also accused foreign forces of spreading "war, bloodshed, aggression, terror and intimidation" in the Middle East, citing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Turning to domestic affairs, Ahmadinejad insisted he won a large majority in June elections. Pro-reform opposition politicians have alleged electoral fraud, and Ahmadinejad has been at the center of political turmoil since then.

"Our nation has gone through a glorious and fully democratic election, opening a new chapter for our country in the march towards national progress and enhanced international interactions," he said, adding that Iranian voters "entrusted me once more with a large majority."

Netanyahu: Ahmadinejad seeks the annihilation of six million more

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was not present at the time of Ahmadinejad's speech, said late Wednesday night that he "did not attend Obama's address as to not sit in the same hall with the president of Iran who has denied the murder of six million Jews and calls for the annihilation of six million more."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told the Israeli prime minister during a meeting between the two that he had condemned Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial on three separate occasions, adding that his repeated calls to destroy Israel were unacceptable.

Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the United States, called Ahmadinejad's address a "cry for truth from a Holocaust denier, a cry for democracy from a leader who shoots freedom seeking protestors, and a cry for peace from the word's biggest sponsor of terror, who aspires to annihilate a UN member nation."

"He says the Jews are a small and greedy minority that controls the world through slavery. That's classic anti-Semitism which exposed the true face of that regime, to anyone who still in doubt."

Israel's UN envoy Professor Gabriela Shalev said that "Ahmadinejad's hate speech reiterates the danger that Iran poses."

"The Iranian president proved again what Israel has been arguing all along, that Iran's nuclear ambitions must be brought to an end," Shalev said.

The Israeli envoy added that a "A time limit must placed out on Iran's compliance with international demands, along with an unequivocal assertion that if it does not meet that date severe sanctions will be implemented against it."

Shalev also said that Ahmadinejad's speech created the appropriate backdrop for Netanyahu's speech, which he is due to give on Thursday.

According to the Israeli envoy, in his address Netanyahu will clarify what dangers Iran poses and prove that there is no choice but to take immediate and decisive action.

The Iranian president did not mention the nuclear issue, Shalev pointed out, thus proving he was ignoring the international demand to comply with international law.

"Ahmadinejad revealed, yet again, his true nature, for while he tortures his own people and represses citizen protest he has the courage to say Israel was committing genocide," Shalev said.

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      1.   wrong on the holocaust, right on this 03:16  |  VIPER 24/09/09
      2.   ahmedinejad enters the Guinness Book of World Records 03:19  |  Conroy 24/09/09
      3.   Ahmadinejad starts and then stumbles 03:26  |  WHG 24/09/09
      4.   Ahmadinejad:"Capitalism is despicable" 03:29  |  A TRUE American 24/09/09
      5.   Thank you, Harper and Canada. 03:31  |  Samuel Prime 24/09/09
      6.   Exactly what the Govt. of Israel didn`t want the world to hear 03:33  |  Marc Leb 24/09/09
      7.   Why they let this monster on American soil.... 03:54  |  Nemesis 24/09/09
      8.   crime 04:06  |  Jochai Rubinstein 24/09/09
      9.   Ahmadinejad needs tension with Israel as his popularity collapses 04:09  |  Mark Leaman 24/09/09
      10.   Go Ahmadinejad Go! 04:12  |  Jose 24/09/09
      11.   You get what you pay for 04:28  |  didn`t attend 24/09/09
      12.   viva dr ahmedinejad 04:51  |  tman 24/09/09
      13.   Is he wrong on anything? Answer: No 05:13  |  Marc Leb 24/09/09
      14.   Translation: Change the Subject, Quick! 05:19  |  Mark Lincoln 24/09/09
      15.   Ahmadinejad 05:50  |  Cynic 24/09/09
      16.   I could swear I`m reading Mein Kampf 06:35  |  Peter Williams 24/09/09
      17.   Ah MAD inejad is nuts 06:38  |  *BEN JABO 24/09/09
      18.   Mr. Ahmadinejad... 07:01  |  Christopher 24/09/09
      19.   Coming from a man who just murdered 250+ peacefull protestors 07:49  |  Israeli 24/09/09
      20.   Perfect ME Solution: water into wine 08:14  |  Shimon Cleopas 24/09/09
      21.   Iran`s Holocaust Of Gay People... 08:28  |  Yosemite 24/09/09
      22.   Was the UNGA Hall Half Empty or Half Full? 08:49  |  Tzfonit 24/09/09
      23.   When did he call for Israel`s annialation? 10:30  |  Miggy 24/09/09
      24.   what an audience... 10:39  |  yb 24/09/09
      25.   With leaders like Ahmadinejad and Gaddafi no wonder Israel ? 11:00  |  John 24/09/09
      26.   To Marc Leb 13:40  |  Zach 24/09/09
      27.   WHY haven`t UNHRC investigated sending children over landmines? 14:11  |  PETER SM 24/09/09
      28.   the sad thing is, doesnt matter how many intelligent people... 14:16  |  Ishai 24/09/09
      29.   the truth hurts and israel doesn`t want to hear it 14:26  |  sam i am 24/09/09
      30.   Russia agrees to sanctions on Iran 14:37  |  Realist 24/09/09
      31.   #30 Realist....I guess we know the trade off 15:22  |  Lynn 24/09/09
      32.   #13 Marc Leb....How many times has he or 15:37  |  Lynn 24/09/09
      33.   un = useless nations 15:41  |  bob white 24/09/09
      34.   #11 didn`t attend....Kudos from an admirer 15:43  |  Lynn 24/09/09
      35.   diplomats 15:45  |  zoe 24/09/09
      36.   Iran is NOT Finland 15:59  |  Honi 24/09/09
      37.   Islamic-Marxist 16:03  |  Anonymous 24/09/09
      38.   Ahmadinejad`s speeches are pure Shakespeare 16:32  |  The Prophet 24/09/09
      39.   #14 Mark Lincoln: good post. 17:31  |  S 24/09/09
      40.   He`s boring 18:53  |  tonylee1973 24/09/09
      41.   Ahmadinejad to the rescue 21:12  |  THK 24/09/09
      42.   above 00:56  |  moishe 25/09/09
      43.   The Iranian president is a disgrace and it seems crazy that the 02:23  |  ks 25/09/09
      44.   sad day to be US citizen 05:15  |  S Seifert 25/09/09
      45.   He was not off 05:17  |  Shahram 25/09/09
      46.   Given Iran`s changing demographics and progressive youth ... 09:35  |  AB 25/09/09
      47.   eveil / good 12:09  |  wounded 25/09/09
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