Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday warned the international community not to waver in opposing the nuclear ambitions of Iran, which has called for Israel’s extinction.
“If we don’t take Iran’s bellicose rhetoric seriously now, we will be forced to take its nuclear aggression seriously later,” Olmert told a joint session of Congress.
Olmert issued a veiled warning to the United Nations Security Council, which has been unable to reach a consensus on U.S.-backed sanctions against Iran.
“The international community will be measured not by its intentions but by its results,” he said, drawing applause. “The international community will be judged by its ability to convince nations and peoples to turn their backs on hatred and zealotry.”
Meanwhile, the White House ruled out any direct talks with Iran until it permanently abandons its programs to develop nuclear weapons.
“When that happens, all right, then there may be some opportunities,” said White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. “Until they do that, there is going to be no change in the administration’s posture or in the president’s posture when it comes to one-on-one negotiations.”
Olmert’s speech was attended by Tuly and Sheryl Wultz of Florida, whose 16-year-old son, Daniel, was killed by an Iran-backed Palestinian suicide bomber during a recent visit to Israel. Sheryl Wultz is a cousin of U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va.
Olmert said Daniel was the victim of one of 20,000 attempted terrorist attacks in Israel during the past six years.
“Most, thankfully, have been foiled by our security forces,” he said. “But those which have succeeded have resulted in the death of hundreds of innocent civilians and the injury of thousands, many of them children, guilty only of being in what proved to be the wrong place at the wrong time.
“These are not statistics,” he added. “These are real people with beautiful souls that have left this Earth far too soon.”
Olmert said Israel might unilaterally draw its permanent borders unless the Hamas party, which won Palestinian parliamentary elections in January, renounces terrorism. But Olmert added that he is willing to work with the Fatah party, which won the Palestinian presidency.
“I extend my hand in peace to Mahmoud Abbas, the elected president of the Palestinian Authority.”
