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Israel's Netanyahu urges 'red line' over nuclear Iran | Israel's Netanyahu urges 'red line' over nuclear Iran |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Israel's prime minister has urged the world to draw a "clear red line" over Iran's nuclear programme. | Israel's prime minister has urged the world to draw a "clear red line" over Iran's nuclear programme. |
In a speech at the UN, Benjamin Netanyahu said time was running out to stop Tehran from having enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb. | In a speech at the UN, Benjamin Netanyahu said time was running out to stop Tehran from having enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb. |
Israel and Western countries suspect Iran is seeking such a capability. Tehran says its programme is peaceful. | Israel and Western countries suspect Iran is seeking such a capability. Tehran says its programme is peaceful. |
Earlier, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas asked the General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinians' UN status. | Earlier, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas asked the General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinians' UN status. |
Mr Netanyahu told delegates at the annual meeting of the assembly that Iran could have enough material to make a nuclear bomb by the middle of next year, and a clear message needed to be sent to stop Tehran in its tracks. | Mr Netanyahu told delegates at the annual meeting of the assembly that Iran could have enough material to make a nuclear bomb by the middle of next year, and a clear message needed to be sent to stop Tehran in its tracks. |
Mr Netanyahu is a man at home in US politics and his message was more attuned to that audience. It was a message of grand simplifications: "the great battle between the modern and the medieval" - in other words between modernity and the forces of radical Islam. | |
This was the cue for Mr Netanyahu to move to his main focus, the potential threat from a nuclear armed Iran. The "hour was getting very late" he said. | |
The Israeli prime minister also twice made positive reference to US President Barack Obama's own comments and actions. | |
It was perhaps a realisation that the antipathy between the two leaders was reaching damaging proportions and also maybe a hint that, while still favouring Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, Mr Netanyahu has sampled the political mood in the US and is re-balancing himself ahead of a possible second Obama victory. | |
"Red lines don't lead to war, red lines prevent war," he said. "Nothing could imperil the world more than a nuclear-armed Iran." | "Red lines don't lead to war, red lines prevent war," he said. "Nothing could imperil the world more than a nuclear-armed Iran." |
He said sanctions passed over the past seven years had not affected Tehran's programme. "The hour is very late," he told delegates. "The Iranian nuclear calendar does not take time out." | He said sanctions passed over the past seven years had not affected Tehran's programme. "The hour is very late," he told delegates. "The Iranian nuclear calendar does not take time out." |
He said he was convinced that faced with a "clear red line, Iran will back down". | He said he was convinced that faced with a "clear red line, Iran will back down". |
He added that he was confident the US and Israel could chart a common path on the issue. | He added that he was confident the US and Israel could chart a common path on the issue. |
On Tuesday, in his own address to the General Assembly, US President Barack Obama stressed the US would "do what we must" to stop Tehran acquiring nuclear arms. | On Tuesday, in his own address to the General Assembly, US President Barack Obama stressed the US would "do what we must" to stop Tehran acquiring nuclear arms. |
However, while the Obama administration has not ruled out a military option, it says sanctions and multilateral negotiations with Iran must still be given time to work. | However, while the Obama administration has not ruled out a military option, it says sanctions and multilateral negotiations with Iran must still be given time to work. |
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US was not prepared to commit to drawing "red lines". | Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US was not prepared to commit to drawing "red lines". |
On Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Western countries of nuclear "intimidation". | On Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Western countries of nuclear "intimidation". |
"Continued threat by the uncivilised Zionists [Israel] to resort to military action is a clear example of this bitter reality," he told the General Assembly. | "Continued threat by the uncivilised Zionists [Israel] to resort to military action is a clear example of this bitter reality," he told the General Assembly. |
'Ethnic cleansing' | |
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas highlighted the Palestinians' UN status, saying he would continue to seek full membership. | |
But he said negotiations had begun with "regional organisations and member states" aimed at adopting a resolution making Palestine "a non-member state of the United Nations during this session". | But he said negotiations had begun with "regional organisations and member states" aimed at adopting a resolution making Palestine "a non-member state of the United Nations during this session". |
"In our endeavour," he added, "we do not seek to delegitimise an existing state - that is Israel - but rather to assert the state that must be realised - that is Palestine." | "In our endeavour," he added, "we do not seek to delegitimise an existing state - that is Israel - but rather to assert the state that must be realised - that is Palestine." |
Currently, the Palestine Liberation Organisation only has "permanent observer" status. Last year, a bid for full-member status failed because of a lack of support at the UN Security Council. | Currently, the Palestine Liberation Organisation only has "permanent observer" status. Last year, a bid for full-member status failed because of a lack of support at the UN Security Council. |
The change would allow Palestinians to participate in General Assembly debates. It would also improve their chances of joining UN agencies and the International Criminal Court. | The change would allow Palestinians to participate in General Assembly debates. It would also improve their chances of joining UN agencies and the International Criminal Court. |
Last year, Palestinians joined the UN cultural agency Unesco, despite Israeli and US opposition. | Last year, Palestinians joined the UN cultural agency Unesco, despite Israeli and US opposition. |
Mr Abbas also denounced Israeli construction in and around East Jerusalem. "It is a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people via the demolition of their homes," he said. |