UN Israeli Ambassador Gillerman: Israel Has A Right to Defend Her Citizens

Israel News Agency ^ | October 5, 2003

[IsraelBeach]

UN Ambassador Gillerman: Israel Has Right to Defend Her Citizens US: Syria Is On The Wrong Side in the War on Terrorism - Harbors Terror Organizations

United Nations---October 6......Israel's UN ambassador defended the IDF attack on Islamic terror bases in Syria, saying that Syria was harboring and supporting terrorists. The U.N. Security Council is presently meeting at Syria's request to discuss the Israeli air raid on a Palestinian terror training base near Damascus on Sunday.

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad called on the council to adopt a resolution condemning the attack as "military aggression."

Syria's draft calls for Israel to stop acts that could threaten regional security. It was unclear when the council would vote on the resolution, but a decision appeared unlikely Sunday.

Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman, speaking after Mekdad, accused Syria of providing "safe harbor, training facilities, funding, logistical support" to terrorist organizations. He said the strike was a "measured defensive response" and an act of self defense that did not violate international law.

He said it was ironic that Syria which Israel accuses of harboring terrorists, should call for a meeting to condemn the attack and compared it to Osama bin Laden demanding a Security Council meeting after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Gillerman also expressed anger that the meeting was called just before the holiest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur.

The Israeli raid on an Islamic Jihad training base came in defensive retaliation for a suicide bombing carried out by the Palestinian terror group Islamic Jihad on Saturday. The bombing, at the Maxim restaurant in the Israeli coastal city of Haifa, murdered 19 people and the bomber.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the airstrike, and a statement from his office said the U.N. chief was concerned that the "escalation of an already tense and difficult situation has the potential to broaden the scope of current conflicts in the Middle East."

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa had called for the Security Council meeting in a complaint to Annan and the president of the Security Council, currently the United States.

"Syria is not incapable of creating a resisting and deterring balance," the letter said.

The United States appealed for restraint on all sides, but accused Syria of harboring Islamic Jihad and other terror groups. Gillerman said he did not expect the United States to support Syria's resolution. The United States stated that: "Syria was on the wrong side in the war on terrorism. Syria must stop harboring terror organizations."

France, a permanent Security Council member, criticized the bombing as an "unacceptable violation" of both international law and rules of sovereignty.

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ISRAEL NEWS AGENCY

[Numbers Guy]

France, a permanent Security Council member, criticized the bombing as an "unacceptable violation" of both international law and rules of sovereignty.

But blowing up Greenpeace boats and invading the Ivory Coast w/o UN permission, those are both fine.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[goldstategop]

I'm disappointed with State's doubletalk calling on "all sides to exercise restraint" - which is tantamount to putting the terror regime of Syria and Israel's democracy on the same moral footing. I wished our government unequivocally backed Israel's right to take same kind of deterrent measures we have pursued since 9-11. It is a War On Terror, after all.

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[goldstategop]

For the French, blowing up little Jewish girls in a restaurant is NOT "a violation of international law and rules of sovereignty." <sarcasm Someone needs to remind the Frogs neither can or ought to be absolute. When states shield terrorist killers on the run, they lose any claim to enjoying sovereignty or hiding behind the niceties of international law. Israel has the same right of self defense and right to pursue terrorists as the United States and every other civilized nation on Earth does.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Frontpage, Breaking, Extended; an important story but isn't that abuse of the sidebar topics?

[EGPWS]

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the airstrike, and a statement from his office said the U.N. chief was concerned that the "escalation of an already tense and difficult situation has the potential to broaden the scope of current conflicts in the Middle East."

I am really shocked by Kofi's reaction./sarcasm After all the U.N.'s function is to maintain "whirled peas" and of course with a mindset of "all terrorism actions and harboring" excluded.

[maxwellp]

As Americans we went out full force against terrorists. And so should Israel! And remember, Israel, who cares what the UN thinks - they have ceased to matter.

[IsraelBeach]

Israel respects the United Nations, but we also respect the right to defend our civilian population. Our defense and survival transcend any political action on behalf of the UN. When the United Nations will finally call for an emergency Security Council meeting after one of our buses, shopping centers or restaurants gets blown up after an Islamic terror attack - we will then have a bit more respect for this international body. Today the UN, which preaches peace, is actually encouraging terrorism by attacking Israel's right to defend her cities and towns.

[wizardoz]

Israel respects the United Nations,

Well, there's your first mistake right there.

[Colosis]

No - blowing up Greenpeace peaceniks is quite fine in my book. I thought the speech by Israel at the UN tonight was probably the best anti-terrorist and logical speeches I have ever heard.

[geedee]

UN Israeli Ambassador Gillerman: Israel Has A Right to Defend Her Citizens

Remain strong Israel. Ignore the politicians of ALL colors who preach against you. The American people WILL NOT ALLOW you to be forsaken nor punished for doing what's right.

[IsraelBeach]

God bless the United States and her creative, potent democracy. We share common values of freedom and liberty which are under direct assault today by Islamic Jihad. They will try to divide us and they will fail. Israelis shed tears as we watched the World Trade Center and Pentagon burn. But our tears turned to smiles as we witnessed your courage and determination in your, in democracy's war on terrorism.
A war for which we will win. We must - for our children's freedom and safety is now being threatened.
We are one!

[maxwellp]

"Israel respects the United Nations..." Why? I think the UN is useless and, as an American, I want the US out of the UN. My taxpayer dollars are being wasted enough. I firmly resent ANY organization that would deny a free country like Israel or the USA the right to defend innocent citizens from being murdered! And please read my tagline.

[Truth666]

Russia recognizes Israel's legal right for self defence.
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=3498872&startrow=21&date=2003-10-05&do_alert=0

[tubavil]

UN Ambassador Gillerman: Israel Has Right to Defend Her Citizens

Then why the hell doesn't she start exercising that right?

Hey, Mr. Gillerman, waiting until bits of Jews are stuck to the ceiling to start thinking about Jewish defense is a bit late, nu?

[Lion in Winter]

BTTT

[pau1f0rd]

I thought the speech by Israel at the UN tonight was probably the best anti-terrorist and logical speeches I have ever heard.

Have you got a link to it?

[IsraelBeach]

Yes - this was perhaps among the most powerful and articulate speeches against terrorism ever uttered in the United Nations.
The Israel News Agency has tried to get a copy of the speech, and we have done an exhaustive search on the Net, but due to Yom Kippur, the speech will only be available in a few days. You can check: http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/home.asp and http://www.IsraelNewsAgency.com