Iran’s UN Envoy Calls Israel Main Source of Threat to Regional Peace, Security

Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gholam Ali Khoshroo condemned the Israeli regime for its “expansionist, aggressive and apartheid policies towards Palestinians” and said the regime’s occupation is the root cause of all conflicts in the Middle East region.

News ID: 69880

Date: 27 April 2018 - 14:48

TEHRAN (Defapress) – “The Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is the core and central to all conflicts in the Middle East,” Khoshroo said, addressing the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, in New York on Thursday.

“No political theater by the US and Israeli regime can cover up the aggressive and expansion policies of this regime and its behavior towards its neighbors as the main source of threat to the peace and security in this region,” he noted.

The full text of Khoshroo’s statement is as follows:

In the Name of God, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful

Mr. President,

At the beginning, I convey my Delegation’s appreciation to Peru for convening this open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Question of Palestine, at this critical juncture for Palestine and the Middle East.

I align myself with the statement by the representative of the Bolivarian Republic Venezuela on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is the core and central to all conflicts in the Middle East. The injustice has been continuing for more than seven decades, intensified through Israeli expansionist, aggressive and apartheid policies towards Palestinians and the Region. No political theater by the US and Israeli regime can cover up the aggressive and expansion policies of this regime and its behavior towards its neighbors as the main source of threat to the peace and security in this region. While the Palestinian territories and Syrian Golan Heights remain under illegal Israeli occupation, the minister of Regional Cooperation of this regime boasting that Israel has undertaken more than 100 strikes to Syria and Lebanon, all of them directly played into the hands of terrorists when and where they need them.

Mr. President

Each time we meet here, we receive news regarding illegal settlements or aggressive policies committed by the apartheid Zionist regime. The Israeli regime now works day and night to negate any right for Palestinians and entrench the occupation.

Indeed, Israel is a rogue regime, by definition--this is an undeniable fact for the international community, except for those who believe illegal occupation, illegal settlements, apartheid, siege, and regular attacks of mass murder are the legitimate actions of a regime that proclaims itself as the only democracy in the Middle East.

As one of the prominent Palestinian scholars once said three decades ago: 'What's so extraordinary is that what the Israelis are now doing on the West Bank and Gaza is really repeating the experience of apartheid and what the United States did to the Native Americans. Put them in reservations or just exterminate them…then the problem will go away.' These words are true today more than ever.

As a result of the new and ongoing mass murder in Gaza, dozens of unarmed Palestinian civilians have been killed and thousands have been wounded so far. It is the latest in an old pattern followed by the Israeli regime during the course of the past seven decades. Given the circumstances, there is no doubt that these vicious attacks and killings were planned and deliberate. Those who support and enable the Israeli regime to commit these types of crimes have also the Palestinians’ blood on their hands.

The unlawful announcement on al-Quds al-Sharif and the imminent transfer of the US embassy to this city is another example of the policies that are exacerbating the problems. These measures, gravely contravene international law and relevant UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.

The exceptionalism that has long been accorded to the Israeli regime must now end if this Council is serious about establishing peace and security in the Middle East. The impunity this regime has enjoyed for so long wouldn’t have been possible without the help it receives from the US and certain interest groups.

Mr. President

In closing, at a time when the Palestinian people are facing rising Israeli aggression, Iran reaffirms its longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian people, recognizing their decades of resilience despite so much suffering and injustice, and Iran reiterates its strong support for their legitimate and inalienable rights, including to self-determination and freedom in an independent and viable State of Palestine, with Al-Quds as its capital.

I thank you, Mr. President.

Message end