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Israel asks U.N. to expel Iran

Jerusalem: Hitting back at Iran, Israel on Thursday asked the United Nations to remove it from the membership of the world body amid an international outcry over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks that the Zionist nation be ``wiped off the map.''

``It's the first time since the creation of the U.N. in 1945 that one of its members has openly called for the destruction of another,'' Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres told Israel Radio calling for the United Nations to throw out Iran.

Dubbing a nuclear Iran as ``a nightmare'', Mr. Peres said ``it is impossible to ignore this and close your ears.''

``Iran's intentions are dangerous because this country wants to develop a nuclear weapon and long-range missiles,'' he was quoted as saying.

Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Gillerman, put up the demand to debar Iran from the U.N. membership at the instructions of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after Mr. Ahmadinejad's declaration that Israel should be "wiped off the map".

Mr. Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom were urged by Mr. Peres to respond to the Iranian offensive, it said. ``It is unacceptable that the leader of a state member of the U.N. advocates genocide. This call goes against the U.N.'s treaty and constitutes a crime against humanity,'' Mr. Peres wrote in a letter sent to them. ``The words of the Iranian president are especially severe in light of Iran's attempts to develop nuclear arms and obtain long-range missiles. ``Israel must unequivocally demand of the U.N. and the security Council that Iran be removed from the organisation,'' Mr. Peres wrote to Mr. Sharon and Mr. Shalom.

PTI

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