Israel vows at U.N. never to allow Iran to join 'nuclear weapons club'

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Thu Oct 1, 2015 4:09pm EDT

Israel vows at U.N. never to allow Iran to join 'nuclear weapons club'

UNITED NATIONS | BY LOUIS CHARBONNEAU AND HUGH BRONSTEIN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his annual United Nations address on Thursday to launch an all-out assault on the historic nuclear deal with Iran, warning that his country would never let the Islamic Republic join the nuclear weapons club.

Speaking at the yearly gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu reiterated Israeli criticism of a deal between Iran and major world powers aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program.

He said that, once international sanctions are lifted, "unleashed and unmuzzled, Iran will go on the prowl."

Israel, Netanyahu said, would never allow Iran "to break in, to sneak in, or to walk into the nuclear weapons club."

Israel has repeatedly warned it is prepared to use military force to prevent Iran from acquiring atomic weapons. Tehran denies wanting nuclear arms and insists its nuclear program is peaceful.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/01/us-un-assembly-israel-idUSKCN0RV57K20151001

[tk2kewl]

1. it's a big club...

dumbest choice of words ever

[6chars]

2. Obama made the same vow.

[geek tragedy]

3. Difference is Obama actually did something to prevent Iran from developing a nuke.

Bibi just holds his breath and throws temper tantrums.

[Scootaloo]

5. And followed up with treaty endeavors

Netanyahu has done... what? Threaten? Yell? Stomp around? Draw cartoons?

[6chars]

6. He is probably just expressing his confidence in Obama

Anyway, I kind of agree with both Obama and Netanyahu that I don't want Iran to have nuclear weapons, especially not with the kinds of things their leaders say and do.

[Scootaloo]

7. Was that sarcasm? Hard to tell in text

The only reason Iran would want nuclear weapons is because three nations very close to it - one of whom keeps threatening to attack, two of whom are constantly on brink of war - are nuclear powers.

Interestingly, voluntary disarmament by Israel would go a long way to lowering any desire iran may have for the weapons.

[oberliner]

8. Yeah, I'm sure that's the only reason Iran would want nuclear weapons

Can you actually have written "voluntary disarmament by Israel would go a long way towards lowering any desire Iran may have for the weapons" with a straight face?

[6chars]

9. Yes

Whatever we thinkabout the Iran deal, we can probably agree Netanyahu does not have confidence in Obama.

[King_David]

10. Nonsense

I have supported the Iran deal from inception and Netenyahu is an idiot BUT Israeli voluntary disarmament will do nothing to quench the Ayatollahs thirst for nuclear weapons. And if you really believe that to be true you're clueless in what this mid-east thing is all about.

[bemildred]

4. Everyone’s talking ISIS at the UN, leaving Netanyahu glaring

(JTA) – All anyone attending the United Nations General Assembly opening seemed to want to talk about was the threat posed to the world by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

That was much to the consternation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who argued in his speech before that body on Thursday that Iran, beyond the benefits accrued to it because of the sanctions relief for nuclear restrictions deal, was benefiting from the intensified focus on ISIS.

“When your enemies fight each other, don’t strengthen either one, weaken both!” he said.

In one of the most dramatic moments of the week of speeches, Netanyahu charged the assembled world leaders with silence in the wake of Iranian provocations, including calls for Israel’s disappearance, before and after it reached the deal in July with six major powers.

http://www.jta.org/2015/10/01/news-opinion/united-states/everyones-talking-isis-at-the-un-leaving-netanyahu-glaring

[Little Tich]

11. Iran? Is Netanyahu completely unaware of what's happening in the Middle-East right now? n/t

[JohnHarris]

12. Self-Determination, Demonizing, and the Heart of the Matter

I spent parts of five summers as a human rights worker in the West Bank with Christian Peacemaker Teams. I know Israel's fears. These fears are legitimate. Iran uses the Israel/Palestine question to demonize an enemy. They are a regime that needs enemies to demonize. Israel needs self-determination as a Jewish state to feel secure. At the same time, I have personally iewed scores of human rights violations done by the Israeli military on the Palestinian population, including beatings, arbitrary arrests, and the destruction of buildings. I have also watched that same military stand aside while Israeli settlers brutalize Palestinian citizens in similar ways. Al-Qaeda attacked us not because of our freedoms, but because of our foreign policy. Israel ought to stop its daily human rights violations in the West Bank; this would provide nations like Iran less ammo for their demonizing.

They just don't hate us because of our freedoms...

[geek tragedy]

13. thanks for the thoughtful post, very good. and, welcome to DU! nt