Livni: Iran's Security Council bid 'absurd'

"Accepting Iran to the UN Security Council is akin to letting a criminal be his own judge," Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Wednesday following Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's address to the General Assembly.

Livni called Tehran's bid to become a member of the Security Council 'absurd', saying "a country that threatens the security of its neighbors and calls for the destruction of another country wants to be a member of an organization whose goal is to contribute to global security.

"Iran is currently subjected to the Security Council's sanctions because it produces nuclear weapons and supplies arms to terror groups," the foreign minister added.

Livni, the newly elected chairwoman of the ruling Kadima party, continued to say that "responsible countries cannot support Iran's membership in an organization that is tasked with implementing the sanctions. What is required now is continued pressure on Iran to make it clear that ignoring the international community's demands comes with a price. (Tehran) cannot be permitted to join a body that is supposed to lead this initiative."

The FM has instructed Israeli envoys abroad to make use of Ahmadinejad's vehement speech as part of the effort to thwart Tehran's bid to join the Security Council.

In his UN address Tuesday the Iranian leader said the "Zionist regime" was headed for collapse, in a reference to Israel. Ahmadinejad, who has said in the past that Israel should be wiped off the map, railed against "murderous Zionists" who he said were manipulating Europe and America.

"Today, the Zionist regime is on a definite slope to collapse, and there is no way for it to get out of the cesspool created by itself and its supporters," he said.