Israeli Regime’s Inciting of Hatred Must Be Unequivocally Condemned: Iran

In a letter sent to Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres and President of the Security Council of the UN Sérgio França Danese on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, Saeed Iravani said that the Israeli regime’s representative's "odious behavior is a clear example of promoting hatred and should be unequivocally condemned."

Following is the full text of Iravani’s letter:

I am writing to express my strong condemnation and categoric rejection of the recent hate speech, racist remarks, and unfounded allegations made by the representative of the Israeli regime against my Country during the emergency session of the UN Security Council held on October 30, 2023, under the agenda item "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question" (S/2023/9462). Given the format of the meeting, which prevented the Iranian delegation from participating and responding to the unfounded accusations made against my Country, I would like to bring the following points to the attention of the Council members:

1. Once again, the Israeli regime’s representative misused the Security Council chamber to spread Iran's phobia and made fabrications and baseless accusations against Iran. Not content with these unfounded allegations, he then resorted to spreading lies, disinformation, and hateful and inflammatory language, while attacking the dignity of Iranian officials. This odious behavior is a clear example of promoting hatred and should be unequivocally condemned.

2. This provocative and irresponsible behavior is entirely consistent with the Israeli regime's long record of utilizing deception and lies as tools. Just last week, following the United Nations Secretary-General's fact-based statement during the UN Security Council open debate on the Palestine issue held on 24 October 2023 (S/2023/9451), in which he correctly stated that Hamas's actions did not occur in isolation or in a vacuum, the Israeli regime’s representative attacked the Secretary-General's dignity and engaged in hate speech, even going so far as to demand his resignation as the highest official of the United Nations.

3. The authorities of this regime openly disregard any respect or acknowledgment of the United Nations and openly declare non-compliance with UN resolutions. However, they opportunistically utilize the UN platform to propagate hate, disseminate disinformation, and divert international attention away from the severe atrocities being perpetrated against the Palestinian people in occupied Palestine. This manipulation is facilitated by the unwavering support of the United States.

4. Israel, the occupying apartheid regime, has continued to blatantly violate the fundamental principles and norms of international law, notably international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in occupied Palestine for over seven decades. These violations include brutal massacres, the forced displacement and transfer of civilians, the deliberate targeting of civilians, notably women and children, as well as critical and civilian infrastructure, and the use of starvation as a method of warfare against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. All these criminal actions constitute the gravest international crimes, and their documentation by relevant international bodies is meticulous and extensive. As a result, the Israeli regime must be held accountable and not be permitted to evade responsibility or avoid punishment through disinformation campaigns or by attempting to shift blame onto others.

5. The Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon the international community, in particular the UN Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities and take resolute actions. These actions must compel the Israeli regime to end its occupation, cease its acts of aggression, and adhere unwaveringly to its international obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

6. I would like to take this opportunity to categorically reject the unsubstantiated allegations against my Country in the letters dated 24 August, 8 and 11 October 2023 from the representative of the Israeli regime addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council (S/2023/623, S/2023/744, S/2023/756). It is evident that the Israeli regime is attempting to justify and conceal its criminal acts and atrocities against the Palestinian people in occupied Palestine, along with its persistent breaches of UNSCR 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006), by levying such unfounded accusations.

 I should be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.