NETANYAHU TELLS UN: YOU BEGAN AS A ‘MORAL FORCE’ AND HAVE BECOME A ‘MORAL FARCE’
Netanyahu Tells UN: You Began as a ‘Moral Force’ and Have Become a ‘Moral Farce’
The United Nations “began as a moral force and has become a moral farce,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quipped on Thursday in his annual address to the UN General Assembly in New York City.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu predicted, “Israel has a bright future at the UN.”
“Back home, your governments are rapidly changing their attitudes toward Israel,” the prime minister said. “Everything will change, and a lot sooner than you think.”
More and more countries — including in Asia, Africa and Latin America — are seeing Israel as a potential partner in “fighting the terrorism of today and developing the technology of tomorrow.”
But the biggest shift, Netanyahu stated, was taking place in the Arab world, where many nations were coming to realize that Israel is an ally, not an enemy.
“Our common enemies are Iran and ISIS,” he said. “Our common goals are security, prosperity and peace.”
Looking to the future, Netanyahu said, “I believe the day is not far off that Israel will be able to count on many countries to stand with us at the UN. The days when UN ambassadors reflexively condemn Israel, those days are coming to an end.”
Referring to rumors of a potential UN Security Council resolution on peace with the Palestinians being advanced in the coming months, Netanyahu declared, “We will not accept any attempt by the UN to dictate terms to Israel. The road to peace runs through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not through New York.”
Netanyahu characterized Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ threat to sue the United Kingdom over the 1917 Balfour Declaration — issued during Abbas’s General Assembly speech earlier on Thursday — as “absurd” and called out the PA for its incitement of terrorism.
“How can we expect young Palestinians to support peace when their leaders poison their minds?,” Netanyahu asked. “President Abbas, you have two choices: you can continue to spread hate as you did today, or you can work with me.”
The prime minister went on to invite Abbas “to come and speak at the Knesset in Jerusalem and I will gladly come to speak at the parliament in Ramallah.”
Netanyahu also reiterated his vow that Israel would not let Iran develop nuclear weapons — “not now, not in a decade, not ever.”
