Ahmadinejad at U.N.: U.S. Planned 9/11 To Save Israel
The United States arranged the 9/11 attacks “to save the Zionist regime,” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the United Nations General Assembly.
The U.S. delegation walked out of Ahmadinejad’s controversial speech Thursday at the U.N. in New York, as did all 27 European Union delegations, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Costa Rica, according to reports.
The Islamic Republic president told the Assembly that there were three theories about who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks, all involving American officials’ complicity at the highest levels. He called on the U.N. to establish “an independent fact-finding group” to look into the events of Sept. 11.
Ahmadinejad used the forum to attack Israel, continuing the attacks he had been launching all week during media interviews.
“This regime (Israel), which enjoys the absolute support of some western countries, regularly threatens the countries in the region and continues publicly announced assassination of Palestinian figures and others, while Palestinian defenders … are labeled as terrorists and anti-Semites,” he said.
“All values, even the freedom of expression, in Europe and the United States, are being sacrificed at the altar of Zionism,” Ahmadinejad said.
In a response to Ahmadinejad’s speech, the United States Mission to the United Nations said in a statement: “Rather than representing the aspirations and goodwill of the Iranian people, Mr. Ahmadinejad has yet again chosen to spout vile conspiracy theories and anti-Semitic slurs that are as abhorrent and delusional as they are predictable.”
In an interview Wednesday on CNN’s Larry King Live, Ahmadinejad called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “skilled killer.”
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
