Tag Archive for UN

| September 29, 2012
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White House reports Netanyahu & Obama ‘in full agreement’ on Iran’s nuclear program

Following a phone conversation between Netanyahu & Obama, the WH did not say whether Obama gave any ground on giving a ‘red line’ towards Iran.

Romney called Netanyahu afterwards.

 

 

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday expressed solidarity on the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, the White House said, amid signs of easing tensions over their differences on how to confront Tehran.

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the Oval Office, September 28, 2012. Photo by Official White House – Photo by Pete Souza

Obama, who opted not to meet Netanyahu on his U.S. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| September 28, 2012
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Iranian delegation to UN General Assembly in New York on major shopping spree

Report: Iranians have trouble buying imported goods back home since sanctions imposed over its nuclear program.

 

Iranian delegates to the United Nation General Assembly went on a shopping spree during their visit to New York, the Daily Mail reported Thursday, citing a source saying sanctions imposed on Iran make it harder to get foreign goods back home.

A sign marks the spot for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at UN HQ - AFP - September 25, 2012.

A sign marks the spot for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead of the annual UN General Assembly meeting in New York, September 25, 2012. – Photo by AFP

 

The American chain stores that the Iranians visited include Payless shoe store, Costco, Walgreens and Duane Reade, the report said, adding that the men accompanying President Ahmadinejad were interested in cheap clothing, shampoo, soap and vitamin supplies. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| September 27, 2012
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Israeli leader focuses on Iran’s ‘aggression’ while Palestinian leader accuses Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’

“It’s not a question of whether Iran will get the bomb. The question is at what stage can we stop Iran from getting the bomb,” Netanyahu said.

By Michael Martinez, CNN

 

(CNN) — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asked the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday for nonmember observer status, one step up from the authority’s current position as a permanent observer.

Abbas was later followed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who criticized Abbas’ speech but focused more on excoriating Iran’s attempts to develop nuclear weapons.

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, speaks during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 27, at U.N. headquarters in New York. The event unites more than 100 heads of state and government for high-level meetings on nuclear safety, regional conflicts, health and nutrition and environment issues.

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, speaks during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 27, at U.N.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| September 25, 2012
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U.S. refuses entry visas for 20 Iranians for UN meet in NYC

Although 2 ministers & top aides among those denied entry, Iranian news agency says 140 were given U.S. visas.

By Reuters

The United States has denied visas to about 20 Iranian government officials hoping to attend next week’s UN General Assembly, including two ministers, Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Saturday.

United Nations General Assembly - AP - 21.9.2011

President Barack Obama addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 21, 2011. Photo by AP

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a regular at the assembly since he took office in 2005, will give his final speech there on Wednesday and will address a meeting on the “rule of law” on Monday. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| September 22, 2012
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Obama appoints Israeli billionaire’s wife, Dr. Cheryl Saban to UN

Dr. Cheryl Saban will represent the U.S. at the next U.N. General Assembly. She’s wife of Israeli-American media mogul and strong Obama supporter Haim Saban. 

Dr. Saban, “The reason why the U.S. stands behind Israel is the Jewish lobby,”

By Yoni Hirsch

Cheryl Saban, wife of Israeli-American billionaire Haim Saban, has been nominated U.S. representative to the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which kicks off in New York next week.

Dr. Cheryl Saban, the new U.S. representative to the U.N., and her husband, billionaire Haim Saban. – Photo: Reuters

Dr. Saban is a published author and head of the non-profit organization What is Your Self-Worth, which promotes the empowerment and advancement of women.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| September 21, 2012
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Washington warns Iran: Time is running out on ‘diplomatic solution’ over nuclear program

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, tells Iran at UN Security Council meeting, Tehran must respond constructively to Western proposals on nuclear concerns.

By DPA

The United States said Thursday that “time is wasting” in seeking a solution to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities as Tehran has failed to respond constructively to Western proposals.

UN Security Council - AP - Archive


A session of UN Security Council – Photo by AP

“We believe there is still time and space for diplomacy,” U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice told a UN Security Council meeting on Iran’s nuclear program.

“However, the onus is on Iran to respond constructively,” Rice said, adding that Washington is seeking a “clear, united resolution” to Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which she said has advanced beyond the 20-per-cent enrichment needed for civilian use of nuclear energy. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| September 9, 2012
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PA president: Despite U.S. pressure, Palestinians will seek UN recognition

Abbas says Palestine wants recognition as non-member state; also says gov’t employees will not receive full salaries in October because ‘donor countries’ haven’t delivered their promised charity.

 

 

Mahmoud Abbas announced Saturday that the Palestinian Authority has decided to seek United Nations recognition as a non-member state. This will happen, said the Palestinian president, despite United States pressure opposing the move.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas talks at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas talks at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sept. 8, 2012. Photo by AP

Abbas, who spoke to reporters Saturday afternoon in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said the PA intends to submit the request to the UN General Assembly on September 27. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| September 8, 2012
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Israeli elected to UN’s Human Rights Committee

Prof. Yuval Shany selected to judicial body with 112 votes; ‘no trivial matter’ that Israeli was chosen for this prestigious role

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

Professor Yuval Shany

Professor Yuval Shany

WASHINGTON – Professor Yuval Shany, dean at the Hebrew University’s law faculty who was elected to serve on the UN’s Human Rights Committee, was celebrating his achievement on Thursday night.

Speaking of his new role, Shany praised the Foreign Ministry and Israel’s mission to the UN who managed to push the decision after a lengthy diplomatic campaign.

“The fact that Israel was elected to a body with so many hostile countries and others, who see Israel as a human rights violator is not a trivial matter,” Shany told Ynet. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: ,
| August 18, 2012
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Ban Ki-Moon slams Iran leaders’ anti-Israel remarks

UN chief condemns Iran’s supreme leader & president for ‘inflammatory’ verbal attacks, says he is ‘dismayed by the remarks threatening Israel’s existence’

By Reuters

 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon sharply criticized Iran‘s supreme leader and president on Friday, describing their latest verbal attacks on Israel as “offensive and inflammatory.”

באן קי מון Photo: Alex Kolomoisky

UNS-G Ban Ki-Moon
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky

Many thousands of Iranians shouted “Death to America, death to Israel” during state-organized protests on Friday and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told them there was no place for the Jewish state in a future Middle East.

“The Secretary-General is dismayed by the remarks threatening Israel’s existence attributed over the last two days to the Supreme Leader and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the UN press office said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| August 6, 2012
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Knesset Member Danon: PA’s UN Bid Means Israeli Sovereignty Bid

PM must tell PA leaders that if they seek recognition as a state in ‘West Bank’, Israel will seek to annex the region, MK says.

By Maayana Miskin

 

Likud MK Danny Danon has a response to the Palestinian Authority’s plan to seek United Nations recognition as a state. If the PA seeks statehood unilaterally, he told Arutz Sheva, Israel must unilaterally annex Judea and Samaria (Shomron).

Past experience with the PA’s UN bids shows there is no need to fear the “political tsunami” predicted by Defense Minister Ehud Barak last time, he said.

However, while the PA bid is not risky, it deserves a “fitting” response, he said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| August 5, 2012
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Isreali Ambassador: Palestinians have ‘guaranteed majority’ for UN membership

Amb. Prosor tells radio stations that PA will likely receive non-member observer status, and says: ‘Nothing will change on the ground’

By Reuters

 

The Palestinians’ bid to upgrade their status at the United Nations would find majority support there but would not bring them closer to statehood and peace with Israel, Israel’s UN envoy said on Sunday.

Prosor - David Bachar - February 2011

Isreali Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor.- Photo: David Bachar

Citing stalled peacemaking and Israeli settlement-building on occupied West Bank land where they seek sovereign independence, the Palestinians said on Saturday they would renew a bid to win UN.recognition as a state.

Ron Prosor, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, accused the Palestinians of trying to recapture international attention that has shifted to crises in Iran, Egypt and Syria. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| August 4, 2012
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21 dead in Damascus’ Palestinian refugee camp after being hit by mortar shells

Unclear if Palestinians were fired on by Assad’s forces or opposition, says Syrian activists.

 

 

Mortar shells rained down on a crowded marketplace in a Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital, killing 21 people as regime forces and rebels clashed on the southern outskirts of Damascus, activists said Friday.

Shelling in Homs, Syria.

Shelling in Homs, Syria. – Photo by AP

The Britain-based Syria Observatory for Human Rights, which reported the deaths, said the shells hit Yarmouk camp Thursday as shoppers were buying food for the evening meal. The activists would not speculate on who was firing.

“We don’t know where the mortars came from, whether they were from the Syrian regime or not the Syrian regime,” said Rami Abdul Rahman, director of the Observatory. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| July 26, 2012
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Iran accuses Israel of committing Bulgaria suicide attack

Iranian envoy to UN to Security Council: Israeli agents attacked their own people in Bulgaria

By Reuters

Iran’s UN envoy accused Israel on Wednesday of plotting and carrying out a suicide bomb attack on a bus in Bulgaria a week ago in which five Israeli tourists were killed.

A suicide bomber blew up the bus in a car park at Burgas airport, a popular gateway for tourists visiting Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, killing himself, the Israeli tourists and the Bulgarian bus driver and wounding more than 30 people.

Burgas bus

A burned out bus in Burgas, Bulgaria following a terrorist attack on July 18.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| July 16, 2012
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Palestinians Plan to Revive Bid for UN Recognition

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says timing of the request in asking the U.N. General Assembly to recognize Palestine as observer state will be decided next week by the Arab League.

By The Associated Press

 

The Palestinian Authority has announced that it plans to reapply for U.N. recognition. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Sunday that the timing of the request would be decided next week by the Arab League.

Gaining U.N. recognition requires a prospective state to achieve a two-thirds majority at the U.N. General Assembly. – Photo credit: Reuters

Gaining U.N. recognition requires a prospective state to achieve a two-thirds majority at the U.N.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| July 5, 2012
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Obama Approves Anti-Israel ‘Briefing’ at UN

The Obama administration approved a move by the UN to invite Navi Pillay, the Human Rights Commissioner, to brief Security Council on Israel

By Rachel Hirshfeld

The Obama administration approved a move by the United Nations to invite Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to brief the Security Council on Israel.

“Though the U.S. is a veto-holding power, the extraordinary move has full American approval” and “was a trade-off for having the high commissioner brief the Council on the subject of Syria,” according to National Review.

Pillay, known for her anti-Israel sentiments, has compared “violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers” with “summary executions, rape and torture” in Cote d’Ivoire, “brutal violence” affecting “tens of thousands” in Syria, and “systematic torture” in Afghanistan.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
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