Who’s the Pariah Now?
Israel's outgoing ambassador to the U.N. says the world needs to keep pressure on Iran.
Being the ambassador from Israel has never been a good way to make friends at the United Nations. But Dan Gillerman says that over the past five years he has forged ties with diplomats from several countries that officially scorn his own. In that time he has also had to manage the fallout from the invasion of Iraq, the 2006 Lebanon war and the growing Iranian nuclear program. With his term coming to an end, he spoke with NEWSWEEK's Lally Weymouth about Iran, the peace process and last week's prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizbullah. Excerpts:
WEYMOUTH: What do you think about negotiating with a terrorist organization like Hizbullah?
GILLERMAN: Israel has never dealt directly with Hizbullah. We were dealing through mediators, through the Germans, but never directly with Hizbullah.
Do you approve of the exchange?
I think it has problems because it signals to the other side that Israel is willing to pay a price even for dead soldiers, which may make the other side feel that they can be irresponsible in dealing with our prisoners. On the other hand, it shows Israel's commitment to soldiers.
Why can't Israel get Gilad Shalit [another kidnapped soldier] out of Gaza?
The price they are asking for Gilad Shalit is very high … the release of about 450 prisoners. Many of them are murderers with blood on their hands.
Is Israel going to do something to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power?
I think Israel should do everything in its power, literally everything, to prevent that mad regime in Tehran … from achieving nuclear weapons. I believe it is Israel's responsibility to its people, but I believe also it is the responsibility of the international community. Iran is a threat not just to Israel but to world peace and security. It is up to the international community to act rather than to expect Israel to act.
Knowing that the United States is going to change administrations, would you want to see Israel do something about Iran's nuclear program now?
As Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, I believe that all diplomatic efforts have not yet been exhausted. There were three sanctions resolutions adopted by the Security Council. We know the Iranian leadership and the Iranian people were not indifferent to these resolutions. They were quite rattled, not just by the sanctions, but mainly by the unanimity. I don't think Iran wants to be a pariah state.
Do you think that Saudi Arabia is building a nuclear program?
I have no doubt that if Iran is allowed to develop its nuclear program, many other countries in the region—including Saudi Arabia and Egypt—will follow suit. Saudi Arabia is probably more threatened by Iran than Israel is. Iran has designs on Saudi Arabian oil.
You met Benazir Bhutto last year. What was your impression of her?
She was a very charming, charismatic lady. She told us that when she was prime minister, the heads of Pakistan's atomic-energy agency came to her and said, "Pakistan is in deep economic trouble. We can make a lot of money by providing know-how and selling our nuclear capability." She said, "You are crazy, I will never allow it. The only three countries who would be willing to buy it from us are Iran, Libya and Syria, and I forbid you to do it."
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Member Comments
Posted By: Sultan Ahmed @ 07/31/2008 10:42:30 AM
Comment: ''Israel's outgoing ambassador to the United Nation says,
the world nesss to keep pressure on Iran'
But i have different view in this matter,
look, Non prolifration treaty(NPT) an agreement,
and iran its signatree,
we should make solution of this issue,
which can engulfed whole world into fire,
It is need of the time,
to go through the whole agreement,
word by word,
because this agreement ,not only a cpmprehensine in nature,
but also very senstive.
Iranain has different stand.
and others are clarifying it in other words.
There is dispute on it,
arguements are being advance ,
but in supporting,
no party is ready to take a stand heading to right line.
using a power, it can not be resolved,
the best way is negotitions,
it is prime duty of United Nation ,
move forward and take this enstinve issue,
in its own hand and take a firm decision ,in the line of the said agreement.
representatives be selected with ''Yes'' of the parties concerned,
they acte as independent ,impatial reconiliators,
and a firm decision keeping in minde whole sacenario and the existing circumstances.
Judgement must be based on jusice,
then it would be acceptable to all,
The formula ,under which set of ecnomic sanctions has been imposed
failed,so new way to resolve this crisis should be adopted for security of rigion.
Posted By: doktor @ 07/30/2008 10:00:56 AM
Comment: Are You Ready to Face the Facts About Israel?
http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts07252008.html
I had given up on finding an American with a moral conscience and the courage to go with it and was on the verge of retiring my keyboard when I met the Rev. Thomas L. Are.
Rev. Are is a Presbyterian pastor who used to tell his Atlanta, Georgia, congregation: ???I am a Zionist.??? Like most Americans, Rev. Are had been seduced by Israeli propaganda and helped to spread the propaganda among his congregation.
Around 1990 Rev. Are had an awakening for which he credits the Christian Canon of St. George???s Cathedral in Jerusalem and author Marc Ellis, co-editor of the book, Beyond Occupation.
Realizing that his ignorance of the situation on the ground had made him complicit in great crimes, Rev. Are wrote a book hoping to save others from his mistake and perhaps in part to make amends, Israeli Peace Palestinian Justice, published in Canada in 1994.
Rev. Are researched his subject and wrote a brave book. Keep in mind that 1994 was long prior to Walt and Mearsheimer???s recent book, which exposed the power of the Israel Lobby and its ability to control the explanation Americans receive about the ???Israeli-Palestinian conflict.???
Rev. Are begins with an account of Israel???s opening attack on the Palestinians, an event which took place before most Americans alive today were born. He quotes the distinguished British historian, Arnold J. Toynbee: ???The treatment of the Palestinian Arabs in 1947 (and 1948) was as morally indefensible as the slaughter of six million Jews by the Nazis. Though nor comparable in quantity to the crimes of the Nazis, it was comparable in quality.???
http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts07252008.html
Posted By: observer101 @ 07/26/2008 11:25:07 AM
Comment: 6,000 centrifuges total to make nuclear energy?...They must be in a real hurry to make electricity..Rhetoric is nowadays a precursor to an attack..We listened to Osamas rhetoric, we listened to Saddams rhetoric "alot of good it did him", And now you propose we sit and listen to Irans rhetoric?...Now other Middle Eastern countries dont want Iran to have ANY form of nuclear energy because they know exactly what will happen...They are hoping we or Israel attacks them to slow them down in there goal to produce"electricity". I guess Israels 'attack" on Syrias peaceful power plant a few months ago wasnt really followed by attacks from other mideast countries because why?...Maybe its because they knew what the outcome would be if Syria were allowed to build it..Just like the mideast region knows what will happen if Iran is allowed to continue its goal for "lots of electicity"..Democratically elected?...My ass...Just like Africas "democratic" elections right?...Intimidation, and rigging the votes...Im sure the Iranian ppl wanted someone in office that put their nation up against the world for the sake of nuclear electricity...And Im sure they were voting for sanctions that they are now enjoying...And grow up the WORLD has always backed one regime or another to achieve its goals...Its silly not to...So yes put your head back in the sand and wish us well in our endeavors of hopefully stopping a fanatical regime from achieving its goals either by negotiation or force.