US - Israeli Strike On Iran Gets UN Chief's Approval

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Press Esc

United Nations Secretary-General today tacitly gave the go ahead to US an Israel to attack Iran as American and Israeli jets took part in a joint exercise aimed at preparing the two countries for the looming strike.

When a reporter asked Ban Ki-moon about the exercises and the war, the Secretary-General dodged the question and talked about Lebanon and Gaza instead.

The journalist's question was:

"United States and Israel are holding joint exercises in Israel – air exercises – and many in the Middle East are saying that this is in preparation for an attack on Iran. Iranian officials are threatening to retaliate, not only against American interests in the Middle East, but also against Israel and against oil facilities in the Middle East. How worried are you about this situation getting out of hand and escalating to a war?"

Ban Ki-moon answered:

"I am gravely troubled by all these situations going on – happening in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinians, and also in Lebanon - all these are happening in the Middle East. I am looking forward to my participation in another Quartet meeting around the end of this month. I sincerely hope that the international community should really be able to find some wisdom and willingness and flexibility to address this issue.

There will be an expanded Quartet meeting between the Quartet principals and Israelis and Palestinians and [on the] following day, Arab partners. Through these peace movements we hope, really, to be able to find some solutions to these issues. This needs some maximum restraint from the parties concerned, and also flexibility to contribute their own efforts to this."

Interestingly, the UN chief heavily criticised Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for make threatening statements about Israel.

"The Secretary-General points out that the State of Israel is a full and long-standing Member of the United Nations with the same rights and obligations as every other Member," A UN spokesperson said.

"He reminds that, under the United Nations Charter, all Members have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State."

Asked by reporters why the Secretary-General has not made any comments regarding these exercises or threats by US and Israel, an angry spokesman replied: "Well, first, we don’t comment on threats."

When the reporter pointed out that Ban Ki-moon responded to verbal threats by Iran against Israel, but failed to utter word when real threats were made by Israel against Iran, the spokesperson flew into a rage and asked the reporter: "What is your question?"