fredag 11 juli 2014

Amb Prosor addresses the UN Security Council

Amb Prosor addressses the UN Security Council (10.07.2014)
 As I speak, there is a storm of rockets being fired by the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza. Hamas is intentionally and indiscriminately threatening the lives of three and a half million innocent men, women, and children in Israel from north to south - from Beersheba to Tel Aviv to Haifa. In the last three days, 442 rockets have been fired into Israel - that's one every 10 minutes.

Fifteen seconds [play sound of siren]. That's how much time you have to run for your life. Imagine having only 15 seconds to find a bomb shelter. Now imagine doing it with small children or elderly parents or an ailing friend.
A generation of Israeli children is growing up under the shadow of this threat. This abnormal way of life has become the ‘normal' way of life for many Israelis - and it is absolutely unacceptable. No nation, no people, and no government could tolerate this...

... No country would accept the threats that Israel faces. We are determined to give Israelis the safety and security they deserve. This week, Israel launched an operation of self-defense, "Protective Edge", to counter these attacks, to defend our citizens, and secure for them a life without constant threat.

The goal of our operation is to remove the threat posed by Hamas by dismantling its military infrastructure and restore quiet in Israel. We aren't looking for a band aid solution that will allow Hamas to rest and regroup. We aren't going to give them a ‘time out' so that they can replenish their rocket supplies and hit us again in a few weeks.

Israel is taking great measures to avoid harming innocent civilians. The Israeli Defense Forces warns Palestinians in Gaza of imminent strikes. At the same time, Hamas instructs these civilians to stand on the roof of buildings and act as human shields. Hamas is exploiting our concern for human life by hiding in Palestinian homes, schools, and mosques and using the basement of a hospital in Gaza as its headquarters. They are committing a double war crime: targeting Israeli civilians while hiding behind Palestinian civilians.
Hamas is targeting the supply lines of its own people. It is firing rockets at the electrical plant in Ashkelon which is keeping the lights on for the citizens of Gaza. Earlier this week, Hamas blew up a tunnel near the Kerem Shalom crossing and it is firing rockets and missiles at this critical entry point. Let me be clear - Hamas is targeting the only crossing through which food, medicine and other essentials enters Gaza. This is how much they care for their own people. Despite the attacks, Israel is keeping the crossing open and on Tuesday and Wednesday, 242 truckloads of goods were delivered into the Gaza Strip...

... Israel is on the forefront of the free world fighting radical Islamic terrorism. The threat posed by terrorism is a global threat - ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hezbollah, and Hamas. From Abuja to Fallujah, terrorists are attacking our schools and skyscrapers, our homes and hospitals, our malls and embassies. No nation is immune.

If you want the nations of the world to stand with you in your battle against terrorism tomorrow, stand with Israel today. The call from your capitals must be loud and clear - opposing terrorism in one place means opposing terrorism in every place.

It is our cities, our homes, and our families that are under fire. I ask each and every person in this Chamber - what would you do if it was your family under attack? What would you expect your own government to do?

There is only one responsible course of action for this Council - condemn Hamas. Condemn terrorism. Condemn the rocket fire. Call on President Abbas to dissolve the unity government and support Israel's right to defend itself. It is the only way to achieve peace in our region.

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