On Thursday, Sept. 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu displayed a cartoon drawing of a bomb in a presentation to the United Nations, calling for action against the progress of the Iranian nuclear program. Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded to Netanyahu’s presentation at a press conference in the Iranian capital city of Tehran on Tuesday, Oct. 4, calling the display “childish and primitive,” among other things, according to a Washington Post article.
“Red line, white line, black line and the like is for children. This is the level of this guy’s character,” Ahmadinejad said during the conference. “It was a primitive drawing, an insult to the audience …It was a very ugly behavior.”
Ahmadinejad also took the opportunity to throw a verbal jab at Netanyahu. During the conference, he reportedly called the Israeli Prime Minister a warmonger, stating, “Whoever talks of war is retarded.”
Tensions between the two countries have been high for years and Iranian nuclear advancements have done little to lower them. According to the Washington Post, Israel considers the Iranian program a major threat to their country’s well-being, citing several statements, actions and political stances Iran has taken against Israel. According to Israel, Iran has denied that the Holocaust ever occurred. Moreover, Iran has repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel, while also developing missiles capable of reaching Israeli soil. In addition, Iran has harbored Islamic militant groups for years, providing them an area to recruit, train and rehearse operations. Israel believes that without action being taken, Iran will successfully develop nuclear weapons.
Ahmadinejad used the press conference on Oct. 4 to belittle both the Israeli presentation and the Prime Minister. According to the Washington Post, Ahmadinejad claimed the presentation was poorly executed and that the cartoon drawing of a bomb was an intellectual insult to ambassadors and dignitaries who were present for the speech.
Although the drawing of a bomb was cartoonish and slightly juvenile, I believe that Netanyahu’s fear of Iran’s nuclear program is valid. Iran has been known globally as an extremist nation that is a safe haven for terrorists and takes pride in their military might. The Iranian regime’s denial of the Holocaust and aggression towards Israel further validates Israel’s fear of the country. Iran is also closely allied with China, a superpower who is America’s biggest foreign threat, according to a 2011 Senate Committee testimony given by the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper.
Ahmadinejad accurately described Netanyahu’s bomb prop as “childish and primitive,” but the rest of the Iranian president’s speech was baseless and extremely off-color. When he called the Israeli Prime Minister “retarded” all of his previous comments lost any shred of credibility they had. The remark was completely tasteless and I believe that Ahmadinejad owes Netanyahu and the global community an apology for his remarks.
While Israel is known for their aggressive military responses to attacks carried out by Palestinian Hezbollah militants, I believe that one needs to take into account the country’s proximity to war-torn Arab nations as well as their tumultuous history and hard-won freedom. Israel and the Jewish community have suffered countless instances of persecution long before the atrocities of the Holocaust.
Over the last decade, Israel has been the target of several terrorist acts. According to the Anti-Defamation League’s website, since August 2010 there have been six major attacks that have resulted in 34 people being wounded and 18 deaths. One of the people killed was a pregnant Israeli woman. Israel is right to be worried about the nuclear program in Iran and I believe that the entire global community should be a little on edge. If Iran successfully becomes a nuclear power, there is no telling who they might target.
David Adams can be reached at dadams@spartans.ut.edu
Really Adam?…Most aggressive country in the region? Wow wonder why?….could it be that everyone one of there neighboring countries has tried not once, not twice, but three time to invade Israel? They have spent decades vowing to destroy Israel and drive the Jews into the sea. Not sure about you but that set of circumstances would make me rather twitchy too. As for Ahmadinejad, he is a holocaust denier at his very core. He has made multiple statements at the UN denying it and even hosted a conference on the issue in Iran.Nice try, please drive through.
You know you can always tell liberal by the fact they spout out non sense with no basis in reality and truly believe if they say it loud enough and long enough it will make it true. Doesn’t quite work that way, but nice try.
Actually, Palestine LOST THE WAR THEY STARTED! The World thinks they are a joke because they WHINE and CRY over their own Ignorance. They start wars and when they get their ass beat, they whine. Typical Middle East cowards… start something you can’t finish, then whine when you get a chunk of reality handed to you.
You fought, you lost. Face it!
This article is so one sided. Iran never denied the occurrence of holocaust but if you watch the interviews, Ahmadinejad is trying to make a point. His point is what did Palistinians do become subject to occupation. Why do you think there is so many terrorist attacks on Israel? Do you think people randomly decide Israel should be attacked cause they are of different faith? No Israel is internationally recognized as the most aggressive country for attacking neighboring countries and invading them, most significantly Palestine itself.the reason behind these attacks is because Israel is causing Palestinians suffering by taking away their lands and forcing them to live in camp sites in poor conditions. It’s holocaust all over again. You’re just not seeing it.