Region | Palestinian Territories
Olmert: World must confront Iranian threat
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert addressed a joint session of the US Congress and urged the international community to tackle Iran's nuclear bid.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:00 May 24, 2006
Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert addressed a joint session of the US Congress and urged the international community to tackle Iran's nuclear bid.
"If we don't take Iran's bellicose rhetoric seriously now, we will be forced to take its nuclear agressions seriously later," he said.
"The international community will be judged by its ability to convince nations and peoples to turn their backs on hatred and zealotry."
Olmert told the joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday that Israel would be a "willing partner in peace" with the Palestinians, but would draw its own borders in the West Bank should it conclude it has no negotiating partner.
"We cannot wait for the Palestinians forever," Olmert said in remarks prepared for delivery on the floor of the House of Representatives.
"Our deepest wish is to build a better future for our region, hand in hand with a Palestinian partner, but if not, we will move forward, but not alone," he said, alluding to promised US support.
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He said the West Bank withdrawal is vital to Israel's security and the cause of peace and cannot go forward without US support.
In a policy shift on Tuesday, the White House gave unexpected backing to Israel's plan to unilaterally set its borders with the Palestinians should their new Hamas leaders refuse to disarm and renounce their call for Israel's destruction.
President George W. Bush praised what he called Olmert's "bold ideas" for acting on its own in the event that talks founder on the internationally backed "road map" peace plan.
From the US Capitol podium on Wednesday, Olmert called on the moderate Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, to seek a negotiated solution - the preferred route for both Olmert and Bush.
If the Palestinians "ignore our outstretched hand for peace," Olmert said, "Israel will seek other alternatives to promote our future and our prospects of hope in the Middle East."
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