Meretz head to UN chief: Palestinian issue priority over Iran

Zahava Gal-On asks Ban Ki-moon to help PM "cross the Rubicon on the way to a peace treaty."

By LAHAV HARKOV
Zahav Gal-On and Ban Ki-moon 370 (photo credit: UN Secretary-General's Office)
Zahav Gal-On and Ban Ki-moon 370
(photo credit: UN Secretary-General's Office)
Israel must focus on ending the occupation before dealing with Iran, Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York on Wednesday night.
“The fear of a nuclear Iran and the enrichment of uranium that is obviously not only for purposes of peace is understandable, but instead of threatening a unilateral attack on Iran, Prime Minister [Binyamin] Netanyahu should commend [the international community] for making diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, while protecting Israel’s security,” Gal-On told Ban, referring to Netanyahu’s speech at the UN earlier this week.
She pointed out that “Iran is not only Israel’s problem; it is the whole world’s problem.”
The Meretz chairwoman also called for Netanyahu to join international diplomatic efforts. Instead of using his speech to discuss Iran, he should have explained how he plans to reach a final-status agreement with the Palestinians because “the continued occupation” is Israel’s biggest problem, Gal-On added.
“Even though most of Netanyahu’s government doesn’t want an agreement, 77 MKs support a peace treaty with the Palestinians on pre- 1967 lines,” she said, asking Ban to help Netanyahu “cross the Rubicon on the way to a peace treaty.”
Ban said the international community must take advantage of the window of opportunity for diplomacy with Iran.