Netanyahu speech / PM slams Gaza probe, challenges UN to confront Iran
Premier praises those who walked out on Iranian president's speech on Wednesday.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu speech Israel newsIn a dramatic address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran poses a threat to the peace of the world and that it is incumbent on the world body to prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons.
In response to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's claims about the Holocaust, Netanyahu began his speech by lambasting those who did not walk out on the controversial leader during his speech on Wednesday.
For the full text of Netanyahu's speech, click here.
The premier also took aim at Ahmadinejad's litany of statements casting doubt on the Holocaust.
"Is this protocol a lie?" Netanyahu asked as he brandished the minutes of the Wansee Conference, the 1942 meeting during which Nazi officials planned the Final Solution.
The prime minister also held up the architectural blueprints of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps that bear the signature of Hitler's deputy, Heinrich Himmler.
"Are the successive German governments that have kept these documents for posterity all liars?" the premier asked. "And what of the survivors whose arms still bear the tattooed numbers branded on them by the Nazis? Are those tattoos a lie, too?"
Netanyahu praised world diplomats who walked out of Ahmadinejad's fiery speech to the UN on Wednesday and assailed those who remained seated.
"Yesterday the president of Iran stood at this very podium and spewed his anti-Semitic rants," the premier said. "Just a few days earlier he claimed that the Holocaust was a lie."
"Do those who listened to Ahmadinejad's speech have no shame, no decency?" the premier asked. "Nearly one-third of all Jews at the time perished in the Holocaust," he said. "Nearly every family was affected, including my own."
"Perhaps some of you think [Ahmadinejad] and his odious regime only threaten the Jews," Netanyahu continued. "Well, if you think that you are wrong, dead wrong."
Netanyahu warned against the dangers posed by Iran, imploring the West to confront the Islamic Republic's "religious fanaticism."
"The struggle against Iran pits civilization against barbarism," Netanyahu told the UN. "This Iranian regime is fueled by extreme fundamentalism."
"What starts as attacks on Jews always ends up engulfing others," Netanyahu said. "This regime embodies the extremes of Islamic fundamentalism."
The premier challenged the world body to prevent Iran from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Israel and the Western powers believe Iran's nuclear program is of a military nature, a charge the Iranians deny.
Netanyahu said the progress made in the postwar 20th century could be undone if Iran is permitted to build atomic weapons.
"History could be reversed if primitive fanaticism acquires deadly weapons," the premier told the UN. "The jury is still out on the United Nations, and the signs aren`t encouraging."
The prime minister also assailed the Goldstone Commission Report which accused Israel of committing war crimes during Operation Cast Lead, the three-week offensive against the Hamas-led Gaza Strip.
"Israel has justly defended against terrorism," Netanyahu said. "This report provides a clear-cut bias against Israel."
"Rather than condemn terrorism, some at the UN are condemning its victims," Netanyahu said. "It is not easy to fight terrorists firing from schools and mosques."
The premier said Israel has gone to "extraordinary" lengths to advance peace in the region, including the unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
"The Gaza disengagement was very painful for Israel," the prime minister said. "Israel withdrew from Gaza because we believed it would achieve peace."
Netanyahu took the UN to task for "remaining silent" while Gaza gunmen launched Qassam rockets at Israeli towns and communities in the western Negev.
The prime minister said his country wants "genuine peace" and he praised the late Arab leaders Anwar Sadat and King Hussein of Jordan for their "courage" in forging diplomatic ties with Israel.
"Every time an Arab leader truly wanted peace, they got it," Netanyahu said. "If the Palestinians truly want peace, we will make peace."
Netanyahu also reiterated an Israeli demand that the Palestinians explicitly recognize Israel as "the state of the Jewish people."
"Say yes to a Jewish state," Netanyahu urged the Palestinians. "The Jewish people are not foreign conquerors in the land of Israel."
Netanyahu said he recognized that the Palestinians are also desirous of a homeland, and that Israel was committed to living side by side with its Arab neighbors.
As a condition for peace, the prime minister said any future Palestinian state must be "effectively demilitarized" so that it would not have the means to threaten Israel.
"I said effective because we do not want another Gaza, another south Lebanon, another Iranian-backed terror base threatening Jerusalem," Netanyahu said. "We want peace, and I believe that with goodwill and hard work, such a peace can be achieved."
Netanyahu also invoked Winston Churchill in imploring the international community to oppose Iran and the rejectionist groups it supports, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
"The question facing the international community is whether it is prepared to confront these forces or just accommodate them," the premier said.
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"The premier said Israel has gone to 'extraordinary' lengths to advance peace in the region, including the unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip." From "Netanyahu slams UN, challenges it to confront Iran" "Netanyahu resigned from Israel's Government yesterday in protest at Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza." From The Times, Aug 8, 2005 www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article552940.ece Why? Why resign from a government going "to extraordinary lengths to advance peace in the region?" It says it all on the man's demagogy and extraordinary bad faith.
Bibi's speech yesterday brought many of us to tears. We are so angry with our government, who appear more willing to talk to madmen and murderers than to stand for what is right and true. If you read some of the American blogs, you'll see a lot of statements like "Why can't Bibi be our President?" and "Now THERE is a leader!" We envy you your great leadership and the people of this nation support you.
That's a good description of Obama..
Bravissimo, Mr. Netanyahu. Finally, we get to the truth, thanks to your extraordinarily fine speech. Finally, we hear an adult holding the rest of the U.N. poseurs accountable. We are with you 100%, and we back all your efforts on behalf of your beloved country. Sincerely, Lisa Sherry
That the PM stooped to the Iranian's level is telling. Why elevate the idiotic rantings to the level of debate long debunked? What was more interesting was his attack on the UN itself. The UN, which created Israel after the WWII, has passed numerous resolutions that Israel has not followed--242 for one. Banning the settlement and appropriation of of land conquered in conflict. The British and French don't occupy Germany, the US didn't appropriate Japan. Now I see why the PM disparages the UN. It only follows resolutions it agrees with and ignores the rest.
I hope that this speech will be citated in future. As world will do nothing against Iran (in patethic hope that somehow things will be fixed - as they were with Hitler), then this speech will probably be remembered as one of last warnings about the problem scale and inportance. Let's see how things will progress - maybe democracies will win again?
tis fine, kara no need to apologize. he didn't say anyhting we didn't have him to.
One of the greatest and most significant speeches I've heard and a pivotal one for Israel, the UN, Iran and the Palestinians. There should now be no doubt that Israel will defend itself against the Iranian threat.
Are you crazy? Netanyahu's speech was as usual, full of arroganc and short on substance.
Kara, speak for yourself. The American people gave our president, Obama, the power to represent us back in Nov. 2008. If you have a problem with that, you may seek refuge elsewhere
Wikipaedia definition of Arab: "Arabs (العرب al-ʿarab), refers to ...a Semitic people originating in Arabia but today spread across most of Western Asia and North Africa, and many other parts of the world.".
in his content as well as delivery. For the first time since Hertzog's dramatic reaction to the Zionism = Racism resolution of 1975 a Jew, the head of the government of the only nation-state of the Jewish people, tiny as it is, stood there and directly made the UN delegates and those who sent them face themselves in the mirror, be it Iran, Hamas, Goldstone, the PA, etc. Instead of automatically being critical of Netanyahu, whose words have received nearly total support and appreciation by the Jews of Israel, to judge by the responses in talkbacks in the Hebrew press, including Haaretz, people should re-read his speech, internalize and try to appreciate its essence.
BRAVO Mr. Prime Minister. Jews are not strange in the Land of Israele and the world should stand with Israel. Every day we have stories of fanaticism of murderous and violence, and still the UN is doubtign if to act to prevent such a regime to produce the most deadly weapons.
"Say yes to a Jewish state," Netanyahu urged the Palestinians. "The Jewish people are not foreign conquerors in the land of Israel." Yes, they are. Israel was *modernly* created in 1948. Making religious claims to the land prior to that time is tantamount to letting all and sundry religious or ethnic claims going back thousands of years for other groups of people as well, say the displaced refugee Arab Palestinians. Better to forge a real peace and recognize the Nakba before it is too late.
But you are so right (mostly). If only they had listened.
I heard your speech at the UN and I and my friends were very proud of you.
Why Arab do you continally pledge to remove the Jews from their land and destroy them in the process Check the Fatah & Hamas covenants & charter
Netanyahu's mantra was "NEVER AGAIN" will another 6 million Jews be destroyed without giving a good accounting of themselves Israel won't allow another Pearl Harbor sneak attack that it underwent on Yom Kippur 1973 Netanyahu wasn't "DEMANDING", he was telling it like it is
It was contempt for a Valueless & Corrupt United Nations
"UN=Useless Nations" Maybe your country should leave the UN. I don't think anyone will stop you. How about it?
Bibi did well, very well.without self loving like Obama but with truth loving , the way a leader should speak.
At least Bibi is not demanding the destruction or wiping off the map of another country.
EXCELLENT SPEECH
Middle of the night in Eastern Australia. I woke up and listened to Netanyahu speech....powerful!!! The room was ashamed. I am a supporter of Israel. And Israel came through beautifully. I loved that the Arabs did not walk.... It is a new day of intelligence in the UN today. Compare that with the unintelligible grunts of Ahmadinejad and Gadaffi and you see that Israel is a story to be proud of.... Well done Bibi!!
Israel will give everything you want and have been asking for ever since you waged your war of aggression against Israel in 1967. The real question is what is it you are going to give in return....a verbal non aggression promise, a promise to stop terrorists, a promise to stop the henious and barabaric calls from the minarets to kill Jews? And after you get what you want based on your promises, will you immediately follow up with goose stepping Swiss soldiers with square moustaches?
Read Edwin Black's "The Transfer Agreement," the story of a negotiated arrangement in 1933 between Zionist organizations and the Nazis to transfer some 50,000 Jews, and $100 million of their assets, to Jewish Palestine in exchange for stopping the worldwide Jewish-led boycott threatening to topple the Hitler regime in its first year. Moreover, read "Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military" by Bryan Mark Rigg. In a few words, Bibi's speech was a mere emotional appeal.
KOL HAKOVAD BIBI YOUR SPEECH WAS GREAT AND BRILLIANT I HOPE YNETNEWS PUBLISH THE FULL SPEECH IT WAS GREAT HE DEFENDED ISRAEL AGAINST IRAN HAMAS THE UN AND DEFENDED THE ZIONISM ALSO RETERITED HIS POSITION THE PA PEOPLE MUST RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AS THE JEWISH STATE GOD BLESS BIBI BUT HE MUST BUILD IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA LET ABBAS AND OBAMA GO TO HELL SHALOM
Mr. Netanyahu, I am a 64 yr. old disabled Marine who loves and respects Isreal. It breaks my heart that your beautiful country stands alone at this time. Surrounded by hostility and nations that want you to go away is a terrible daily chore for each and every family. Since 1948, Isreal could always rely on the United States. I feel so sad, that Isreal can longer depend on my country and make decisions on their own...which I wish I could support in the field and in a conflict to support you. I'm just too old.
Completely agree. All of them rambled on, trying to do some targetted axe grinding. Non of them spoke with any real vision of the future. Real shame.
Here, here!! So glad Israel has a strong and faithful leader helm!!
with us, take the first step. We are tired of being asked to take the first step...and once we take the first step we are we are asked for more. I will repeat what Bibi said: "Every time an Arab leader truly wanted peace, they got it," Netanyahu said. "If the Palestinians truly want peace, we will make peace."
You may find in tracing your geneaology that the Mormons got ahold of all the records and tried to baptize the Holocaust victims, which was protested to by the Jewish groups. These Jews may have objected to being baptized after their death, but the records do show that people lived normal lifes, being born, getting married, but all died in the concentration camps after the Nazis came. I hope that the world will realize that they were killed only because they followed the Jewish religion and had no desire to change it. All Jews in Poland and 3/4 of the Jewish people were killed only because they were Jewish; and the biggest enemy of the Jewish people were the Nazis who murdered them only because they were Jewish. We need an Iran and Middle East who are tolerant of other religions and the Jewish religion.
Actually people returned to hear Netanyahu's speach he was clear and to the point. I give it a A+
Netanyahu meant exactly what he said. The ancient biblical homeland to the Jews, promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by Hashem Himself in the First Book of the Torah. Our connection to this Land is inalienable, is what it means. We passed into Israel after leaving Egypt, land of our exile for 420 years. Netanyahu said excatly what needed to be said. The tide of history will be reversed and we will go back to an age of barbarism,if we are not careful. The mix of dictators and nuclear power, first and foremost, be it a theocratic dictatorship that ultimately will not balk at destroying the World.
How wonderful that we see the truth going forth with courage from Jerusalem just as it is prophecy'd in G-D's WORD . HALLELYAH .
Your speech said it all. (And of course, the usual Talkback nay-sayers and anti-Semites still don't get any of it.)
Israel is best known for ridiculing and pooh-poohing the UN and its resolutions. It openly defies, breaks, and challenges its integrity and is the biggest culprit behind turning the UN into a toothless tiger. How audacious can Bibi be at the time that he continues to build illegal settlements against the wishes of the intermational community.
Bravo!
Could someone please translate the end of his speech which was spoken in Hebrew? I understood only a few words and would appreciate knowing what it meant. Thank you!
Bibi came off just like yet another Middle-Eastern religious nutter.
we have the right man in the job.... he understands that our strength is from speaking the truth and noone can beat the truth
Obama and Goldstone vs Netanyahu. No wonder the latter is upset
We demand, we demand, we demand, we demand..... (Slightly bored) U.N. audience: Hey Bibi, please come back again, when you will have to GIVE something for a change....
of the written plans of the Nazis, which they fulfilled, are worthy for Holocaust deniers to see, but whether or not it makes a difference to change their stance towards Israel is another question. It is after WWII that the U.N. became a credible international institution and its aim is to prevent brutality amongst the nations and enhance cooperation with one another. Iran must adhere to these fundamental rights and cooperate with the nations which seek global stability, which in turn will bring the Iranian people more prosperity and respect. Many years ago Israel and Iran had good relations and hopefully one day this will occur again.
"Every time an Arab leader truly wanted peace, they got it," Netanyahu said. "If the Palestinians truly want peace, we will make peace."
Try this link: The Israel Project" press@theisraelproject.org
The only peace acceptable to Israel is peace on its terms and its terms only. It follows that there will be no peace. If Israel is happy with perpetual conflict then Israel is victorious. Congratulations you have won a famous victory. Or have you?
http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/09/24/full-text-of-ahmadinejads-speech-to-the-un-general-assembly/
Netanyahu and Churchil are two of a kind. Churchill is the office massmurderer who is responsible - among others - for the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and for the criminal bombings on civilians in many Cities as well in Japan as in Germany during wwII. Let's face the facts. Nowadays we consider those bombings as warcrimes and crimes against humanty. Like the atrocities commited in Gaza on defenseless people. Children, pregnant woman, mental and pysical handicapped, old age people and so on. .
how both the NY Times and the LA Times simply ignored the s speech and didn't bother to report on it at all. Shows how American liberals just cant handle anything that confronts their idea of what they want the truth to be.
But what kind of peace is Bibi offering? His rhettoric is over the top and doesn't bode well for any kind of peace but the exact opposite. What other country in the ME can get away with threats and the means to carry them out like Israel......Sparta is alive and well in 21st century but how much longer can this game of world chicken go on?
Israel has chosen war by denying the rights of Palestinian people to live in their own country ?Palestine? and by manufacturing hundreds of nuclear heads, and it will therefore, get war. It is as simple as that.
Same old same old. You always get the same thing from Amahdinajen and you always get the same thing from Bibi. What they offer is neither constructive nor innovative. Bibi's approach is to drag his feet and hope the Arabs will go away; he's stale. At this point, Abbas is a more dynamic leader.
Any chance we could elect Mr. Netanyahu our president? Our current White House resident appears to have a utopian vision that involves failing our best friends and embracing our worst enemies. America is slowly waking up and we know the president is scared because of the way he demonizes his opposition ? sort of like Ahmadinejad. Keep blasting away at the nonsense Mr. Netanyahu, help is on the way. We can't wait for our mid-term elections!
It is not your land! "The Gaza disengagement was very painful for Israel"
... daring anyone and everyone to disappress with him.. ... methinks it's also called arrogance...
What a great man.
There is nothing els to say. You said it all. We sallute you Mr Prime Minister.
#7 you are so very confused.....Bibi is not a religious fundamemtalist calling for anyone's destruction. Guess you've never heard or addressed youself to NEVER AGAIN
We demand, we demand, we demand, we demand.... Audience at the U.N.: Hey Bibi, come back again, when you are also prepared to GIVE something for a change....
While I would call myself an big supporter of Israel, I will say that it gets a raw deal in the media and at the UN. I think that will change after today. I was completely moved by Netanyahu's speech today. Powerful, yet reasonable. Challenging, yet with an offer of peace to those around them. Keep praying for peace in the middle east!
Those who choose peace with Israel will get peace but those who choose war will get war: they will not like it.
where can I find the whole speech online?
"The question facing the international community is whether it is prepared to confront these forces or just accommodate them," the premier said " i hope you aren't waiting on our president to help. he has made that very clear. he is a most accomodating man.
EXCELLENT job, Mr. Netanyahu! He is the epitome of excellence in leadership. I am embarassed and I apologize on behalf of my President, Barck Hussein Obama. When Obama said "America" in his speech, he DID NOT represent the American opinion. He represented his own liberal, radical opinion shaped by many years of bad influences. I am truly sorry he spoke, Israel.
Nice to know, I guess, that Muammar Gaddafi and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad do not have to stand alone as arrogant jerks who spewed contempt on the UN General Assembly and proclaimed their intransigence towards the civilized world. Benyamin Netanyahu now stands proudly between them.
What does it all mean? It means the Israelis are not Foreign to Israel. Duh! Did you think we all came from Eastern Europe?
UN=Useless Nations
Well-spoken leader, this Netanyahu is. That's exactly what makes him the leader Israel needs right now. Its always been a pleasure to see or hear him speak.
Very well done.
UN=Useless Nothings!
quite empty except for an 'amen' corner. I didn't see any difference in numbers of those listening between Ahmadinjead and Netanyahu's speech. Where were all the people? Only one large applause when he said Pals and Jews need two states living side by side? He pleaded that Israelis are not 'foreign to Israel'. What does it all mean? Who knows?