Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Blum said that the General Assembly resolution adopted last Thursday night calling on the Security Council to impose an arms embargo in Israel was aimed at destroying Israel by denying it the right to self-defense.
Addressing the Assembly, Blum said the adoption was “one more illustration” of the manner in which, “at a time when all efforts are being made to overcome 30 years of bitter hostility in our region, the majority of the General Assembly is being bullied into adopting policies of confrontation and condemnation in lieu of reconciliation and peace.” He charged that the Arab states, particularly Iraq, which initiated the resolution, were using their oil revenues to arm themselves heavily while Israel had reduced its military budget by 20 percent.
The resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 72-30 with 37 abstentions, describes Israel as a “grave menace to international peace and security.” It requested the imposition of a mandatory embargo against Israel on “any supply of arms, ammunition, military equipment or vehicles, or any spare parts thereof.” The request is almost certainly to be vetoed in the Security Council by the United States and other Western powers.
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