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OPT: Week in review - UN addresses spark sharp criticism from all sides

World leaders addressed the UN General Assembly this week amid sharp controversies, walk-outs and outrageous allegations against fellow leaders. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among those who on September 24, addressed the assembly and directed scathing criticism against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad and at the UN for remaining "silent" over Hamas' years of launching rockets into Israel.

Netanyahu's UN address came a day after that of Iran and also US President Barak Obama, who stood before the GA for the first time.

Among other rants, namely against Ahmedinajad and Iran, Netanyahu sharply criticized the United Nations for the recent publication of the Goldstone report, which accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes.

"Rather than condemning the terrorists and their Iranian patrons, some here have condemned their victims. That is exactly what a recent UN report on Gaza did, falsely equating the terrorists with those they targeted," he said.

The Israeli leader went on to say that Israel had gone to great lengths to protect civilian lives during its Cast Lead invasion into Gaza last winter. "Israel, by contrast, tried to minimize casualties by urging Palestinian civilians to vacate the targeted areas. We dropped countless flyers over their homes, sent thousands of text messages and called thousands of cell phones asking people to leave."

"Never has a country gone to such extraordinary lengths to remove the enemy's civilian population from harm's way. The same UN that cheered Israel as it left Gaza and promised to back our right of self-defense now accuses us -my people, my country - of war crimes? And for what? For acting responsibly in self-defense. What a travesty!"

He also said that his country was ready to make peace with the Palestinians, but one that would guarantee the security and Jewish character of Israel. "Just as we are asked to recognize a nation-state for the Palestinian people, the Palestinians must be asked to recognize the nation-state of the Jewish people," repeating an earlier condition that a Palestinian state must be effectively demilitarized.

It is no surprise then, that a Palestinian delegate walked out during his address.

A day before, on September 23, President Obama addressed the Assembly. In regards to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, he reiterated much of what he has been saying since taking office, including a call on Israel to freeze settlement activity, Palestinians to work more on halting "incitement and terror" and both to resume negotiations immediately.

"The goal is clear," Obama said. "Two states living side by side in peace and security - a Jewish State of Israel, with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and realizes the potential of the Palestinian people."

Earlier in the day, Obama met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Netanyahu in the anticipated tripartite meeting on the General Assembly sidelines. While some Palestinians criticized Abbas for attending the meeting without first clinching at least some demands, one Palestinian official said Abbas really had no choice. "The president couldn't resist the heavy pressure the Americans put on him. In fact, he went to the meeting with Netanyahu against his will."

For his part, Abbas says he is sticking to his guns. "Our position after the meeting is the same as it was before the meeting in New York," he said in a statement. "We came to New York out of respect for President Obama and his tireless efforts in favor of the Palestinian people in various fields."

Apparently, the Israelis feel the same. Also on September 23, Netanyahu told the Israeli daily Haaretz that he would never accept a peace agreement involving an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders. He also said that if Palestinians want peace, they would have to accept Israel as Jewish. "I told Abu Mazen [Abbas] I believe peace hinges first on his readiness to stand before his people and say, 'We...are committed to recognizing Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.'

"I believe that disagreement about this is the root of the conflict."

Hence, the re-launching of negotiations is up in the air. According to chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, the two sides only agreed to continue dealing with the Americans and not each other because too many difference prevented any direct talks. .

"It's not happening," he said. "We agreed to continue dealing with the Americans until we reach the agreement that will enable us to re-launch the negotiations," Erekat said.

Apparently, President Obama was not very happy about the meeting either, reportedly chiding both Netanyahu and Abbas. "We've had enough talks," he said. "We need to end this conflict. There is a window of opportunity but it might shut."

On September 25, President Abbas spoke to the General Assembly, saying Israel must stop all settlement activity in Palestinian territory if it wants to "salvage" the Middle East peace process. He said the international community must pressure Israel to halt settlement activity, which "undermines the goal of establishing a geographically contiguous Palestinian state."

This goal continues to be undermined to this day. Just as Mr. Obama and Mr. Abbas continue to insist that settlements cannot lead to peace, Israeli media sources announced on September 22 that infrastructure works were underway in the West Bank settlement of Beitar Elite south of Jerusalem. Furthermore, on September 23, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak agreed to the construction of 37 additional settlement units in the settlement of Karneh Shomron.

Also, on September 26, in the northern West Bank villages of Kisan and Al Haddidiyeh, Israeli authorities handed out demolition orders for eight homes. The orders were given to a village council member and told that residents must demolish their homes within a week. One man, Hussein Ghazal said he received orders for his and his two sons' homes.

Three Islamic Jihad operatives were killed on September 25 in Gaza while traveling in their car. According to Israeli military sources, the men were on their way to launch a rocket into Israeli territory.

Also on September 25, 21-year old Bassam Mubarak died when a smuggling tunnel in Rafah collapsed on top of him. Two others were injured.

On the first day of the Muslim Eid Al Fitr on September 20, which marks the end of Ramadan, two people were killed in Jabaliya and three injured in Israeli shelling.

Finally on September 25 during the weekly protests in Bilin, two Israeli peace activists were detained by the Israeli army and one Palestinian photographer, Haitham Khatib was detained and injured. The Israelis are also up against charges of illegally entering the Palestinian territories, banned to Israeli citizens.