Monday, October 19, 2009

Diplomatic victory for Israel: IPU won't debate Gaza offensive; Shalom: "Sick and tired of continuous one-sided discussion on Israel"

(Ynet).Israel managed to foil on Monday another Arab proposal to debate Operation Cast Lead at the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Geneva.

Israel's proposition on the matter received 1,197 votes in favor, and a proposition put forward by Iran and the Arab world received 538 supporting votes.

Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom, who headed the Israeli delegation, said after the vote: "We have not lost hope yet."

Countries supporting the proposal put forward by Oman include Turkey, Russia, China and India. The proposition called for an IPU debate of the Goldstone Report, which accuses Israel of committing war crimes during the Gaza war.

Minister Shalom said in his speech before the IPU, "Just last week there was a debate here on Israel, a session that could also take place in New York. Not only Israel, but the entire world is sick and tired of this continuous, one-sided discussion on Israel. The world has grown tired of the attempts by Iran and the Arab bloc to raise the Israeli issue over and over again.

"Enough with these attempts to use the international stage for attacks on Israel, The world is tired and the time has come to discuss important matters that unify the world." Shalom said.