Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: wiki commons.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reacted strongly to the speech delivered today by Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas before the United Nations General Assembly prior to a vote on the upgrade of Palestinian Authority status to observer state.

“The world watched a defamatory and venomous speech that was full of mendacious propaganda against the IDF and the citizens of Israel. Someone who wants peace does not talk in such a manner,” he said according to an email sent to reporters.

The Prime Minister’s office released the following additional statement slamming the UN decision: “This is a meaningless decision that will not change anything on the ground. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that there will be no establishment of a Palestinian state without a settlement that ensures the security of Israel’s citizens. He will not allow a base for Iranian terrorism to be established in Judea and Samaria, in addition to those that have [already] been established in Gaza and Lebanon. The way to peace between Jerusalem and Ramallah is in direct negotiations, without preconditions, and not in one-sided UN decisions. By going to the UN, the Palestinians have violated the agreements with Israel and Israel will act accordingly.”

Earlier today, in advance of the vote, the Prime Minister spoke at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem stressing that in previous situations where Israel has ceded control of land, Iran has filled the vacuum. “I still remember the applause that the Government of Israel received from the international community when we decided unilaterally to disengage from Gaza. We received applause and suffered missiles. Israel left Gaza and Iran came in. Exactly the same thing happened when we left Lebanon earlier.  Israel left and in came Iran,” he said.