Israel Matzav

Iran bribing friendly countries to abandon Israel

A disturbing report in the Yedioth Aharonoth Hebrew newspaper claims that Iran is buying votes in the United Nations from countries that were previously considered friends of Israel.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the report said the Iranian foreign minister met with the foreign minister of the Oceania nation Solomon Islands last year and promised him a check in the amount of $200,000, along with technological aid.

These incentives were meant to come in exchange for an end to the nation's support of Israel.

Shortly after the offer was made the Solomon Islands' foreign minister visited Tehran.

Michael Ronen, Israel's ambassador to the Solomon Islands, said in response to the Yedioth report that "Israelis very active in nurturing its relations with countries in the region".

"We don't believe in conditions and we don't offer money in exchange for support" Ronen added. "We offer mainly humanitarian support, in order to stress that we are a positive power in the region."

He added that small states will always be tempted by cash donations. "Iran won the support of the Solomon Islands for $200,000. I won't offer $250,000 to overturn the decision. Israel does not buy support for money," Ronen said.

The Solomon Islands, a poor nation of 600,000 with as much pull in the UN General Assembly as the United States (there's that 'one nation, one vote' thing again) voted in favor of sending the Goldstone Report to the Security Council.

The problem is that we Jews are a bunch of masochists. You would think that after that vote Israel would stop giving gifts to the Solomon Islands. Nope.

Despite its boosting ties with Iran, Israel continues to send humanitarian aid to the Solomon Islands, and is currently sending them equipment to help treat diabetics.

Foreign Ministry sources said, "We still have many friends in the Solomon Islands, and we have no intention of competing with the Iranians over who will pay more. We will continue to transfer humanitarian and medical aid."

As long as we keep giving aid whether or not countries support us, everyone will be happy to pocket our aid and vote against us. The United States has had a similar experience. There has to be a better way.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:29 PM