WASHINGTON - Defense Minister Ehud Barak onWednesday met with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in the organization's headquarters in New York.
The two discussed the Iranian nuclear threat, the situation in the Gaza Strip and implementation of UN resolution 1701 that concluded the Second Lebanon War .
Barak told the secretary-general that "nuclear weapons in Iran will shift the entire strategic balance in the region. We must place debilitating sanctions on Iran, with a restricted time-limit."
Ban expressed support of the Israeli stance that calls to prevent the Islamic republic from acquiring nuclear weapons, and promised that the UN will do everything in its power to promote such sanctions.
Agreed on Iran. Ehud Barak and Ban Ki-Moon (Photo: AFP)
The meeting between the two was held ahead of a UN General Assembly hearing initiated by the Arab member states and slated for Friday, which will center on the Goldstone Report ,its conclusions and repercussions.
During the meeting, Barak criticized the report and called it a "biased and tendentious document that harms the ability of democratic states to fight terrorist organization, and especially those acting within populated areas.
"Its only 'achievement'," Barak added, "was to strengthen terrorist organizations while using civilians as human shields."
Ban reiterated his request that Israel allow the entry of construction materials into the Gaza strip, so that they can commence reconstruction work in areas that were damaged during Operation Cast Lead .
In response, Barak said that "Israel is acting to alleviate the living conditions of Gaza residents and prevent humanitarian crisis."
"That is a terror weapon on all accounts. At the same time, and against all logic, the organization is a member of the Lebanese government and is part of its cabinet. Israel is urging Lebanon to comply with UN resolution 1701," he added.
Prior to meeting with Ban, Barak met with Israel's Ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev. The defense minister, who is holding a round of meetings to discuss the Iranian nuclear program and the efforts to renew peace talks with the Palestinians, is also slighted to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell, as well as US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and US Senior Director for the Persian Gulf Dennis Ross.