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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaking at the UJC General Assembly in Jerusalem on Sunday. (AP)
Last update - 23:06 16/11/2008
GA special report / Olmert: World must confront Iran's malevolence
By Bradley Burston and Raphael Ahren, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: GA, Israel news, Iran 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that the world must "confront Iran's malevolence" and stop the Muslim country from developing nuclear weapons.

Olmert was speaking to the United Jewish Communities General Assembly (GA), an annual conference of thousands of participants from North America, held in Jerusalem this year. The GA, generally held in the United States and Canada, was last convened in Israel five years ago.

"Iran has not terminated its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Iran has not ceased its funding and training of terrorists in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, and around the world," the prime minister told the cheering crowd.
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"Iran has not stopped its pursuit of regional hegemony and creating chaos in this tormented region." he continued. "We must unite our forces as part of the international community, led by the United States of America. We must confront Iran's malevolent diligence and thwart it with great force."

"Iran cannot become nuclear. Israel cannot afford it...The free world must not accept it," he said. "We must all do whatever we can to prevent it."

"It must become more costly for Iran to pursue nuclear weapons than to give them up," the prime minister proclaimed.

Jerusalem considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program, its development of long-range missiles and repeated threats to destroy Israel.

Olmert did not give specific warnings about possible Israeli actions against Iran.

He did, however, mention that this may be the last time he addresses the GA as Israel's prime minister, as he has announced that he will not be taking part in the upcoming elections, to be held Feb. 10.

Addressing Israel's efforts to achieve peace with its Arab neighbors, Olmert said that "Israel under my leadership maintains its commitment to making progress on two political processes - serious and meaningful negotiations with the Palestinians and with Syria, which started and which continue and which I believe are essential for the future well-being and security of the state of Israel."

Also scheduled to address the four-day conference are Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer are slated to speak as well.

"As long as I am prime minister, I will spare no effort to make the necessary progress to advance the peace process," Olmert exclaimed.

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      1.   Iran will be a nuclear power 21:50  |  Siad 16/11/08
      2.   ...more costly. He doesn`t understand that Iran doesn`t care..... 22:25  |  Noah 16/11/08
      3.   Iran is already nuclear ! 22:36  |  Iranian Jew 16/11/08
      4.   The same way Olmert has confronted Qassams 22:43  |  Absolute Sweden 16/11/08
      5.   Siad and Noah 23:03  |  BigBIrd 16/11/08
      6.   Iran is the only regional power 23:12  |  Iranian Jew 16/11/08
      7.   No doubt his suggestion was greeted with booing 23:54  |  Clickfool 16/11/08
      8.   #5 A Muslim I can finally agree with 23:55  |  Ronald 16/11/08
      9.   After 30 years, the world still does not get it 00:15  |  Yuri 17/11/08
      10.   It`s Israel the world must stopped not Iran.... 01:50  |  Dutch 17/11/08
      11.   siad,# 1 i`m guessing that when iran attacks israel 01:55  |  terrornator 17/11/08
      12.   Enough! Neutron bomb Iran already! Nuke `em!!! 02:02  |  Ethan 17/11/08
      13.   Iran is close, but doesn`t have nukes 02:20  |  Marco 17/11/08
      14.   HYPCORICY at the top level 02:32  |  VIPER 17/11/08
      15.   #9 get over it... 02:32  |  Edithann 17/11/08
      16.   #9, YURI, blames the old for the new 02:38  |  VIPER 17/11/08
      17.   #10, ETHAN, trying to commit suicide 02:41  |  VIPER 17/11/08
      18.   #11, MARCO, doesn`t know a thing 02:44  |  VIPER 17/11/08
      19.   "at ANY prize" Siad of the amorphous, "muslim world" 03:15  |  Akiva P 17/11/08
      20.   Absolute Sweden, how I fear you`re right!!! 03:17  |  Akiva P 17/11/08
      21.   Nuclear non-proliferation the only sane course 03:30  |  Morris Valentine 17/11/08
      22.   Aussie Viper, are you on walkabout? Iran must be nuked... 03:32  |  Ethan 17/11/08
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