By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz – 24 Sept 2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1116786.html
Following the release last week of the Goldstone commission findings which accused Israel of committing war crimes during its offensive in the Gaza Strip, diplomatic officials feared that the report would weigh heavily on the agenda of this week’s United Nations General Assembly meeting.
Israel’s fears proved to have no basis in fact as the report was cited by just a few world leaders.
The country that has thus far attracted the most attention is Iran. After accusing Israel of committing war crimes against the Palestinians, Iran itself was the object of criticism. Argentina President Cristina Fernandez blasted Iran for its involvement in the bloody terrorist attacks in Buenos Aires in 1992 and 1994.
On March 17, 1992, a suicide truck bomber rammed his vehicle into the Israeli embassy in the Argentine capital, killing 29 people and wounding 242. Two years later, terrorists struck the AMIA building, a Jewish community center, in the deadliest bombing in the country’s history. Eighty-five people were killed and hundreds were wounded.
France also took a forceful stand against Iran. “If the Iranians do not accede to the demands of the international community this will be a critical mistake,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the UN Security Council.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the Security Council that the world should consider “far tougher sanctions” against Iran if its continues to seek a nuclear bomb.
“As evidence of its breach of international agreements grows, we must now consider far tougher sanctions together,” Brown said.
