Ambassador Ron Prosor. Photo: Maxine Dovere.

Following the latest rocket attack on a Kibbutz in the Sha’ar Hanegev area, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor addressed the United Nations Security Council about the continuing threat to Israeli citizens. The long range rockets launched in this attack, apparently fired from the Gaza Strip, threaten civilians and pose a continuing danger.

The Ambassador noted that there has been a significant escalation of rocket fire over the past two months. He states that, since the beginning of October, “terrorists in Gaza have launched more than 70 rockets and mortars into the major cities, towns and communities of Southern Israel, deliberately targeting civilians in attack after attack.”

The Ambassador chided the Security Council, saying it has “not uttered a single syllable of condemnation against these attacks… a flagrant violation of international law” and queries the reason for its “silence.” In an attempt to “avoid a further escalation,” he requested that the Security Council condemn the attacks “unequivocally.”

The Ambassador spoke at a recent Anti-Defamation League conference in New York City, where he had said the United Nations maintains a “triple standard: one for nations in general, one for democracies, and a special, special one for Israel.” He also pointed out that there are unique designations for Israel – citing as one example the United Nations Human Rights Commission charter which reserves “Article 7” to consider only actions taken by Israel.

“The silence is deafening,” he had said. “We have to deal with it day in and day out.”