Israel protests that Iran can't preach morality
By Edith M. Lederer
September 10, 2008
Guardian
Original Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7788770 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7788770
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Israel responded to an Iranian protest over ``dangerous'' comments by Israeli officials, saying Wednesday it is ``absurd'' for a country whose president has repeatedly called for the Jewish state's destruction to preach morality in international affairs. 
Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazee sent a letter Tuesday to the U.N. secretary-general protesting threats by Israeli ministers to kidnap President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and to use force against the Islamic Republic. 
``These dangerous threats ... not only constitute manifest violations of international law and contravene the most fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations, but are against the basic values of the civilized world,'' Khazee wrote to Ban Ki-moon. 
Israel's new U.N. ambassador, Gabriela Shalev, responded in a statement Wednesday saying that ``it is absurd that Iran preaches morality to Israel.'' 
``Iran's president repeatedly denies the Holocaust and calls - again and again - for the destruction of the state of Israel,'' she said. 
Shalev said Ahmadinejad leads a country ``that develops nuclear capabilities endangering the entire world.'' 
``As such, Iran is under United Nations sanctions for its non-compliance with the international community,'' she said. ``Furthermore, Iran openly and actively supports and arms terrorist organizations.'' 
Ahmadinejad is feared and reviled in Israel because of his repeated calls to wipe the Jewish state off the map, and his aggressive pursuit of nuclear technology has only fueled Israel's fears. Iran insists its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes, but the U.S., Israel and key European nations suspect its real aim is to produce atomic weapons. 
Shalev urged the U.N. Security Council to stay focused on the Iranian nuclear issue and Tehran's failure to comply with other international norms ``in order to halt Iran's threats against Israel and the world.'' 
In his letter to Ban, Iran's Khazee referred to comments Tuesday by Israeli Cabinet Minister Rafi Eitan that kidnapping Ahmadinejad would be ``an acceptable option'' and to comments Sept. 3 by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak repeating the threat to use force against Iran.