Gary Fitleberg, September 23, 2004

Israel's foreign minister called on the U.N. to end its anti-Israel rhetoric and take action against anti-Semitism.

"I call on this assembly to end its obsession with Israel and to ensure that UN resources are allocated more equally and more effectively," Silvan Shalom said Thursday in his address to the opening of this year's General Assembly.

"Our United Nations must provide solutions to the global challenges of hunger and poverty, of disease and weapons proliferation, of drug trafficking and sustainable development. We must not let the Palestinian desire to vilify Israel distract our global community from the obligation to address the needs of all peoples." Shalom also called on U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to convene a special session on anti-Semitism.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg