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Israel to the UN: The Prerequisites for Peace
(Mission of Israel to the UN) Amb. Ron Prosor Israeli - UN Ambassador Ron Prosor told the UN Security Council on Wednesday: Peace must be built on a foundation of education for tolerance and coexistence. Under the Palestinian Authority, students learn history from textbooks that glorify terrorists. They learn geography from atlases that erase Israel from the map. Gaza kindergarten graduations feature "terrorist dress-up." Five-year-olds stage plays that glorify jihadists and suicide bombers. Month after month this Council meets to discuss what is wrong in the Middle East. Where are the concerned voices in this debate for all the hate being taught to Palestinian children? Where are the cries denouncing the incitement that poisons the wells of peace? Peace must be built on a clear recognition that Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people. Since King David laid the cornerstone for his palace in Jerusalem three thousand years ago, Jews have lived continuously in the Land of Israel. Israel is committed to two states for two peoples. In 1947, we readily accepted the UN's plan to create two states in the region, an Arab state and a Jewish state. Sixty-five years later, you still never hear Palestinian leaders speak about two states for two peoples. These days the cities and communities of southern Israel remain under fire from terrorists in Gaza. This is despite the fact that there has not been a single Israeli settlement in Gaza since 2005. Israeli citizens want real assurances for their security. The situation in Gaza provides us with a valuable lesson concerning any future arrangement in the West Bank.