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Peres: Iran unwanted guest in Mideast
Israeli President Shimon Peres points the finger of blame at Iran over Tel Aviv stonewalling the establishment of a Palestinian state. In an address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Peres claimed that the Israelis occupying Palestinian lands enjoy a 'democracy' that suffers because Iran 'divides the Middle East'. Since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran has refused to recognize Israel for its occupation of Palestinian lands as well as the numerous crimes committed against Palestinians - crimes which have been condemned by even close Israeli allies. "It (Iran) built a danger to the entire world. Its quest for religious hegemony and regional dominance divides the Middle East and holds back chances for peace, while undermining human rights," said the Israeli president, who administrates a regime notorious for genocide and the imposition of 'collective punishment' on natives of the land. "Israel has shown that democracies can defend themselves. We do not intend to change," he said. Peres also accused Iran of providing support to the Hezbollah Movement, which played a major role in repelling the Israeli invasions of Lebanon.
Since 2004, Washington has vetoed three resolutions which called for Tel Aviv to halt its operations in the Gaza Strip - which had been occupied by Israeli forces from 1967 to 1994. The exercise of veto powers by the US has led to a continuation of rocket launches by Tel Aviv into the strip, causing the death of a large number of civilians. After declaring the strip 'a hostile entity' in September 2007, Israel curtailed travel into Gaza and cut fuel and electricity supplies to the region. As Gaza depends upon external healthcare systems for the provision of a broad range of medical treatments, the Israeli imposed military blockade forced chronically ill and terminal patients to desperately seek passage out of the coastal strip. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel released a report in August, titled Holding Health to Ransom, exposing 'the methods of coercion' Israel has employed to pressure Gazans and to spy on the strip. According to the report, the regime prevents such patients from leaving Gaza to receive medical treatment unless they can provide desired information about their relatives. Medical treatment for 'the most helpless members of society', reads the report, 'is explicitly or implicitly made contingent upon collaboration' with Israel on a 'regular' basis. "I decide and set the rules, and you'll see that if you do as I say, I'll let you go to Ichilov Hospital," the report quotes an interrogator as telling a patient. "It depends if you accept my demands." The situation in Gaza is such that Iran has on numerous occasions called on the United Nations to stop the 'collective punishment' imposed on Palestinians. Tehran also demands the enforcement of UN resolutions against Tel Aviv. While Israel leads the world in its efforts to supress the Palestinian people, Tel Aviv continues to point the finger of blame at Iran. Iranian 'support for Hamas split the Palestinians and postpones the establishment of the Palestinian state,' Peres said, referring to the Palestinian democratically-elected government. "At the center of this violence and fanaticism stands Iran," Peres continued in his address to the 192-member assembly. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-25 |
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