Iran urges global action for Palestine

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121615&sectionid=351020101


Iran's representative to the UN seminar on Palestine says the Palestinian plight is a "global concern" which the international community must "urgently" address.

Speaking at the two-day event in Vienna, Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said that the Palestinian issue was not simply a conflict between regional and Arab states and that the issue must raise concern on an international level.

"The international community must take urgent action to restore the rights of the Palestinian people, the most basic of rights which they have been denied for over six decades," he told the participants at the gathering.

The United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, the theme of which is "Building institutions and moving forward with establishing the State of Palestine", opened at the UN headquarters on Wednesday.

The aim of the gathering was garnering support for the Program of the Palestinian Authority entitled "Palestine: Ending the occupation, establishing the State".

The organizers of the event also seek to attract much-needed international aid for Palestinians by raising awareness about their economy and the hardships they subject to because of the various limitations and blockades imposed by Israel.

Citing the Goldstone report on the 22-day Israeli war on Gaza, the Iranian envoy condemned Tel Aviv's crimes against humanity and said Israel was able to conduct such inhumane activities because it has US support.

He also condemned Israel's new decision to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank territories it has occupied, saying that Tel Aviv had no regard for international law.

Earlier this month, during US Vice President Joseph R. Biden's trip to Israel, Tel Aviv announced that it would soon initiate the construction of 1600 units in the Ramat Shlomo housing development in East Jerusalem (al-Quds).

More recently on Tuesday, Israeli website Ynet also announced that another East Jerusalem (al-Quds) building project was also underway, this time 20 units in the Palestinian populated neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

The UN Secretary-General has spoken out against the move and said that "all" Israeli settlement building in the occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds is illegal.

"All settlement activity is illegal. But inserting settlers into Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem al-Quds is particularly troubling,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council in New York.

“This leads to tensions and undermines prospects for addressing the final status of Jerusalem,” he said.
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Ahmadinejad Slams West for Supporting Israel



Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121624&sectionid=351020101

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has slammed Western governments for their unconditional support of Israel.

"We don't want you to take a position against Israel; you cannot do that," he said, speaking at a ceremony at Shahrekord in central Iran for the inauguration of a hydroelectric dam across Iran's largest river, Karun.

"There is not a single statesman in the West who is brave enough to stand up against these corrupt Zionists, who have dominated the European nations and the US, and humiliated them with such crimes."

"There is not a brave statesman in the West. At least it seems so for the present. Maybe one will be found in the future," Ahmadinejad said.

He did not however demand that the West have a turnabout and oppose Israel.

“We lower our expectations," he said. "We don't want you to counter such crimes, although you are morally obliged to do so."

Instead, he demanded objectivity from Western governments, and said, "[We want you to] remain neutral. Withdraw your support from these Zionists."

He further said that Washington itself was part of the problem [in the Middle East conflict], because it has always been on Tel Aviv's side.
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Iran Calls for 'Serious' Action Against Israeli Plot



Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121653&sectionid=351020101


Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has urged the international community to foil an Israeli plot to change the identity of Jerusalem (al-Quds).

"Unfortunately, the recent developments and comments made over the past few months by the officials of the Zionist regime (Israel), clearly show the seriousness of the occupiers' plot to give a Zionist identity to the first kiblah of Muslims," Mottaki said in a statement on Thursday.

"This has raised the alarm for people across the globe and has highlighted the necessity of taking serious measures and maximizing potential in all Muslim nations,” the statement added.

The Iranian minister said that the expansion of the Israeli settlements, the destruction of Islamic and Christian structures and the construction of new synagogues in Jerusalem (al-Quds) have unveiled the Israeli plot, "which, unfortunately, has been approved by Washington."

Mottaki warned that the Israeli plot will have "dangerous consequences."

He urged Arab states to put the issue high on the agenda of the Arab League conference, which is underway in Libya.

Mottaki also called for the formation of a committee consisting of the foreign ministers of the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference member states to discuss the latest developments in Jerusalem (al-Quds).