In some of this author’s earlier works, it has been explained that a merciless policy of occupation, oppression and massacre is being carried out against Muslims of the Middle East by some Jews who have adopted atheist Zionism, which is a racist ideology. The details the human rights violations committed by Israel in the Middle East and in other regions were also told. Surely, every Muslim and person of conscience and justice from every belief would condemn this unjust oppression and is right to do so. However, the other side of the coin also deserves attention; both in history and in our day, some Jews are being unjustly targetted and subjected to violence by the members of other beliefs or nations. The racist hatred felt for the Jews which is known as “anti-Semitism” is embraced by various fanatical groups, regimes or racist organisations. Today, many Jewish people face oppression because of this ideology. This form of violence must definitely be opposed. We are against atheist Zionism, which is purely a racist and cruel ideology. Similarly, we are also against anti-Semitism, that is hatred felt for Jews, which is a racist and cruel ideology as well. That is because, our belief calls for a just and tolerant treatment against every nation and belief. In one verse, God commands us to uphold justice for each nation:
You who believe! Be upholders of justice, bearing witness for God alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. Whether they are rich or poor, God is well able to look after them. Do not follow your own desires and deviate from the truth. If you twist or turn away, God is aware of what you do. (The Koran, 4: 135) If someone criticises and hurts an innocent Jew because of the crimes of atheist Zionism, he violates justice. He would again violate justice and err, if he ever condemns different Jewish communities in the world, the members of the Jewish community in Turkey for instance, due to the unjust Israeli invasion and attacks. He would diverge from justice and commit a great sin, if he ever resorts to retaliation against Israeli invasion and organizes acts of terrorism against Israeli civilians. In this article, we will briefly deal with the concepts of atheist Zionism, Judaism and anti-Semitism and explain the attitude a Muslim should assume with respect to this subject. The Tolerance Displayed by Islam to the People of Book In 70 AD, Jews were expelled from Palestine, their homeland they had dwelled for thousands of years, by the pagan Roman Empire and for the remaining 19 centuries lived in diaspora, that is in exile. Throughout this period, they were subjected to oppression and cruelty in most of the Christian countries. They were exiled and even mass executed. During this period, they found the most peaceful and secure environment in the lands of Islam. In the world of Islam, anti-Semitism never flourished; Jews (and Christians) were always allowed to follow their own faiths and even observe their own law, free of any form of oppression and cruelty. The main reason of this spirit of tolerance and security is the Koranic morality. In the Koran, Jews and Christians are named “the People of the Book” and Muslims are advised to establish friendly relations with the People of the Book. The Koran allows Muslims to marry the women of the People of the Book and to accept an invitation to a meal. (Surat al-Maida:5) These commands show that bonds of kinship may be established as a result of the marriage of a Muslim with a woman from the People of the Book, and that both sides of the union can accept each other’s invitation to a meal. These are the fundamentals that will ensure the establishment of equitable human relationships and a happy communal life. In the Koran, God commands Muslims to ensure the security of even the idolaters who do not comply with the revelations of God: “If any of the idolaters ask you for protection, give them protection until they have heard the words of God. Then convey them to a place where they are safe.” (Surat at-Tawba: 6) Meanwhile, Muslims must show more respect, tolerance and goodness to the People of the Book who, compared with idolaters, harbor a faith very similar to those of Muslims. In another verse, God commands Muslims to be good to all non-Muslims – including the People of the Book – provided that they do display enmity towards Muslims:
God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you in the religion or driven you from your homes,or from being just towards them. God loves those who are just...(The Koran, 60:8) Consequently, Muslims are responsible for establishing very warm neighbourly relations with Jews and Christians living in the same community. In a country where Muslims are in majority, the People of the Book are entrusted to Muslims. Making them live in peace and security and protecting them against any danger is a religious duty on Muslims. As was witnessed many times in history, targeting Jews only because of their beliefs, depriving them of their civil rights, sending them to horrible concentration camps is a great cruelty. In the same way a Muslim condemns such cruelty, so must he do his best to prevent it. Ignorant people are obsessed by “holding prejudice against those who are not like them”. That is the reason why numerous accusations and hearsay were spread about Jews both in the past, particularly in the medieval Europe, and today. Still today, under the conditioning of such myths, some people subconsciously hold prejudice and feel antipathy towards Jews. A Muslim can never assume such a crude outlook and attitude. God relates us the existence of the “People of the Book” as a fact, explained us the issues about which they hold misconceptions yet also commanded us to treat them well. In one verse, God commands us to say the following to the People of the Book:
We believe in what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to you. Our God and your God are one and we submit to Him. (The Koran, 29:46) Separating Atheist Zionism and Judaism From One Another As mentioned above, the tolerant attitude that must be assumed by Muslims towards the People of the Book has manifested itself throughout the Islamic history. For centuries, Muslims treated Jews in a friendly manner and Jews responded to this friendship with loyalty. The factor that disturbs this picture is atheist Zionism. Atheist Zionism emerged in the 19th century. The two particular characteristics of the 19th century Europe also influenced atheist Zionism: racism and colonisation. Another outstanding characteristic of this movement is that it is an ideology far removed from religion. Those Jews, who were the ideological mentors of this ideology, either had weak religious beliefs or were atheists. They regarded Judaism not as a religious unity but as the name of a race. They maintained that Jews represented a distinct race from European nations and thus it was impossible for Jews to live with them and that they definitely needed a homeland of their own. The choice of Palestine was not grounded on religious factors but on historical ones. (Surely we consider devout Jews, who regard Zionism as a right to live in the lands of their forefathers and seek to remember and worship God freely in this land, to be free of this statement.) By the moment atheist Zionism emerged in Middle East, it brought nothing but conflicts and pain. In the period between the two world wars, atheist Zionist terrorist organisations organised bloody attacks against the Arabs and the British. In 1948, after the foundation of Israel, Godless Zionism’s expansionist strategy drifted the entire Middle East to an utter chaos. The starting point of atheist Zionism that carried out all this cruelty was not Judaism but Social Darwinism, a racist and colonialist ideology which was a legacy of the 19th century. Social Darwinism, which fostered a constant struggle among people by imposing on them the philosophy, “the strong win and the weak are doomed to lose”, drifted the German nation to Nazism as it drifted Jews to atheist Zionism. Today many religious Jews who criticise atheist Zionism stress the same fact. Some of these religious Jews even do not see the state of Israel as a legitimate entity and thus refuse to recognise it. Rabbi Hirsch, one of the foremost religious Jews, says: “Zionism wants to define the Jewish identity as a national entity...which is a heresy.”[1] The Israeli statesman Amnon Rubinstein says: "Zionism is a revolt against their (Jews') fatherland and the synagogue of the Rabbis".[2] Rabbi Forsythe, on the other hand, maintains that from the 19th century on, Jews diverged from religion and fear of God, an act which entailed a punishment that came in the form of Hitler’s cruelty and thus called Jews to be more religious. Forsythe stated that cruelty and mischief on earth are deeds engaged in by Amalek (disbelievers in the terminology of Torah) and added: “The Jew must be antithetical to the essence of Amalek, which is wildness, abandonment of Torah and Godliness, evil, immorality, cruelty, absence of order or right, lack of authority and law.”[3] Atheist Zionism, which practices just the contrary, is actually a form of fascism, and fascism stems from disbelief, not from religion. Consequently, the one who is actually responsible for the bloodshed in the Middle East is not Judaism but atheist Zionism, a fascist ideology that has nothing to do with religion. However, as in the case of other versions of fascism, atheist Zionism also attempted to make use of religion for its own ends. Misinterpretation of the Torah by Atheist Zionists The Torah is a holy book God revealed to Prophet Moses. God says in the Koran: “We sent down the Torah containing guidance and light...” (The Koran, 5:44) As is also informed in the Koran, the Torah was later distorted with the incorporation of human words in it. That is why what we have today is the "Distorted Torah." However, an examination into the Torah reveals the existence of numerous peculiarities of the True Religion in this once revealed Book. Many issues introduced by the true religion such as faith in God, submission to Him, being grateful to Him, fear of God, love of God, justice, compassion, mercy, opposing cruelty and injustice prevail throughout the Torah and the other books of the Old Testament. Apart from this, the wars that went down in history and the carnages during these wars are related in the Torah. If one’s purpose is to find a basis – although by distorting the facts – for the cruelty, massacres and murders, then he can well take these sections in the Torah as reference for himself. Irreligious Zionism resorts to this very method to legitimise its terrorism which is actually a fascist terrorism and it has become quite succesful. For instance, it has already used the sections related to wars and massacres in the Torah to legitimise the massacres it carried out against the innocent people of Palestine. This is an insincere interpretation, however. Godless Zionism makes use of religion to legitimise its fascist and racist ideology. Indeed, many religious Jews oppose the employment of these sections of the Torah as a reference for the murders committed against the people of Palestine, which is the right thing to do. The Neturie Karta, an organization of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews, proclaim that, in fact, "according to the Torah, Jews are not allowed to shed blood, harm, humiliate or dominate another people". They further stress that, "Zionist politicians and their fellow travellers do not speak for the Jewish people, the name Israel has been stolen by them." Atheist Zionism, by pursuing the cruel policy of occupation in the Middle East under the cloak of “Judaism”, actually does harm to Judaism and Jews all over the world and makes the citizens of Israel or the diaspora Jews the target of fanatics who are willing to take revenge from atheist Zionism. At this point, it deserves mention that there are also people who, in the name of Islam, want to employ the insincerity of “making use of religion for the cause of fascism”. These people carry out horrible violence against innocent people and then try to justify these acts by misinterpreting the verses in the Koran that are related to war and jihad. However, these verses actually describe a hot-war-situation carried out against people who have declared war on Muslims. Those who attempt to justify their murders by misinterpreting these verses with wicked intentions are actually people who do not fear God and who exploit religion for the sake of the passion they feel for cruelty. Indeed, God informs us in the Koran that such people with wicked intentions often try to misinterpret verses in the Koran. (The Koran, 3:7) In reality, neither Islam, nor Judaism and Christianity approve unjust violence and cruelty. However, there may be fanatical, violence-ridden, merciless people in every faith. Wicked people whose main ambition is to shed blood, inflict pain and oppress people out of their arrogance and pride may distort the concepts of these religions and exploit them. This leads us to an important conclusion: the efforts of atheist Zionism to employ Judaism for their own ends can never be the justification of "hatred felt for Jews." Muslims oppose atheist Zionism, not "the People of the Book." Conclusion It is not unusual that Muslims show reaction to the crimes committed by atheist Zionism against humanity and that these crimes evoke feelings of hatred in them. However, such hatred should never turn into an unjust reaction. God warns us in the Koran thus: "Do not let hatred for a people incite you into not being just. That is closer to piety. Have fear of God. God is aware of what you do. (The Koran, 5:8) In compliance with this principle of justice; • We recognise the right of the existence of Israel: The Jewish citizens of Israel have the right to live in peace and security in Palestine, the lands of their ancestors. However, they must absolutely recognise the right of the existence of Muslim Palestinians, the other owners of Palestine, on the same lands. In this sense, they must cease to occupy their lands and restore the destruction they have done for more than 30 years and recompense for it. • We advocate that the Jewish citizens in our country (Turkey) and all other diaspora Jews should live a peaceful and secure life free of any form of concerns and fears. We wish that unacceptable means of pressure on Jews such as the “Wealth Tax” that was once taken from Jewish citizens in Turkey, a shameful page in history, never recur. We also wish that Turkish citizens of Jewish, Greek, Armenian, Catholic, Protestant origin and all other communities, that is to say, “the People of the Book”, can observe their respective beliefs, customs and traditions and lifestyles and thus enjoy a free and comfortable life in our country. In truth, the People of the Book and Muslims are not enemies. As a matter of fact, they are allies. Especially, in our age when the world has been invaded by atheist and anti-religious ideologies, Christians, Jews and Muslims, the defenders of the same moral values and worshippers of the same God, must co-operate. Concerning the People of the Book, God gives Muslims a command in the Koran; to rally to a common formula:
O People of the Book! Let us rally to a common formula to be binding on both us and you: That we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God. (The Koran, 3 :64) This is also our call to Jews and Christians: As the people who believe in God and obey His revelations, let us rally to a common formula, to the word of "faith". Let us love our Creator and our Lord, our One God. Let us obey His commands. And, let us pray that our Lord guides us to the right path. Once Muslims, Christians and Jews rally to this formula and once they realise that they are not enemies but actually friends and that their actual enemies are disbelief and atheism, the world will be a different place. The conflicts, enmities, fears and acts of terrorism, that have been going on for centuries will come to end and a "peace of civilisations" based on a "common formula", love, respect and peace will be established.[1] Washington Post," October 3, 1978[2] Amnon Rubinstein, The Zionist Dream Revisited, p. 19[3] Rabbi Forsythe, A Torah Insight Into The Holocaust, http://www.shemayisrael.com/rabbiforsythe/holocaust.htm
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Motivation and How to Get Motivated
By Remez Sasson
Motivation has become a popular word nowadays. There are motivational coaches and speakers, and motivational books and articles. What is it actually, and why do you need it?
Motivation is a driving force. In order to accomplish anything, you need a driving force, otherwise nothing will happen. A wish is not strong enough to make you take action. A wish is a weak desire. Only a strong desire can drive forward, to act and accomplish aims and goals.
In order to get motivated, you need to know exactly what it is that you want, to possess a strong desire, and to be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal.
More than often there is lack of motivation or only a short-lived one. How many times have you started enthusiastically a weight loss program, began a bodybuilding or aerobics training program or started to learn a foreign language, only to stop after a short while? Few people possess enough willpower and self-discipline to go through to the end with what they begin (this is one of the reasons I have written the book "Will Power and Self Discipline").
It easier to show motivation in connection with a subject that is dear to you. If you desire something, but you don't feel motivated enough to act, this means that the desire is not important enough. To be motivated to take action and do something in respect to your desire, you need to possess a really strong desire.
Motivation has much to do with the emotions and the imagination, which means that if you want to increase it, you have to work on your feelings and imagination.
Tips to increase your motivation:
1. Think, meditate and find out whether you really want to achieve your desire, and whether it is worth the effort and time.
2. Make your goal very clear. Writing it down will help.
3. Think often about your goal or desire.
4. Visualize your goal as already accomplished, and close your mind to contrary thoughts.
5. Read books or articles about the subject of your goal.
6. Read about people who have achieved success.
7. Think often about the benefits you will gain by achieving your goal.
8. Visualize, and think about how you would feel after achieving your goal.
9. Repeat positive affirmations such as: "I have the desire and inner strength to achieve my goal". Repeat this affirmation often, with faith and strong feelings.
10. Start with doing something small concerning your goal. Success in small matters leads to greater success.
Motivation is the powerful engine that moves you towards success and accomplishments in every area.
Motivation has become a popular word nowadays. There are motivational coaches and speakers, and motivational books and articles. What is it actually, and why do you need it?
Motivation is a driving force. In order to accomplish anything, you need a driving force, otherwise nothing will happen. A wish is not strong enough to make you take action. A wish is a weak desire. Only a strong desire can drive forward, to act and accomplish aims and goals.
In order to get motivated, you need to know exactly what it is that you want, to possess a strong desire, and to be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal.
More than often there is lack of motivation or only a short-lived one. How many times have you started enthusiastically a weight loss program, began a bodybuilding or aerobics training program or started to learn a foreign language, only to stop after a short while? Few people possess enough willpower and self-discipline to go through to the end with what they begin (this is one of the reasons I have written the book "Will Power and Self Discipline").
It easier to show motivation in connection with a subject that is dear to you. If you desire something, but you don't feel motivated enough to act, this means that the desire is not important enough. To be motivated to take action and do something in respect to your desire, you need to possess a really strong desire.
Motivation has much to do with the emotions and the imagination, which means that if you want to increase it, you have to work on your feelings and imagination.
Tips to increase your motivation:
1. Think, meditate and find out whether you really want to achieve your desire, and whether it is worth the effort and time.
2. Make your goal very clear. Writing it down will help.
3. Think often about your goal or desire.
4. Visualize your goal as already accomplished, and close your mind to contrary thoughts.
5. Read books or articles about the subject of your goal.
6. Read about people who have achieved success.
7. Think often about the benefits you will gain by achieving your goal.
8. Visualize, and think about how you would feel after achieving your goal.
9. Repeat positive affirmations such as: "I have the desire and inner strength to achieve my goal". Repeat this affirmation often, with faith and strong feelings.
10. Start with doing something small concerning your goal. Success in small matters leads to greater success.
Motivation is the powerful engine that moves you towards success and accomplishments in every area.
Sleep, Thoughts, Worries and Fears
by Remez Sasson
Do you fall asleep immediately after entering bed, or do thoughts and worries flow into your mind, keeping your sleep away? Do you find it hard to ignore them?
While lying in bed at night, it is quiet and dark, there are fewer outside distractions, and therefore you are more aware of the movements of your mind. You feel that thoughts are attacking you, not giving you a moment's rest, especially if you are experiencing some problems in your life.
If you are not healthy you will probably think about your health. If you have problems at work, then thoughts about these problems will probably flood your mind. A child will have thoughts about his parents, teachers or examinations, and a businessman about his work. Thoughts, worries and fears that are usually repressed during the day surface up and swarm the mind.
What would be willing to do to free yourself from these nibbling, restless thoughts that prevent you from falling asleep? Won't you be happy to be able to silence all the thoughts that pop up when you are in bed?
If you fight these thoughts and try to stop them forcefully, they will grow stronger, because you will be giving them more attention. If you want to get rid of a tree growing in your garden and cut it down, it will grow again quite fast, but if you stop irrigating the tree, it will gradually wither. You need to treat your thoughts in the same manner. In order to reduce their quantity and strength, you have to ignore them, which is equivalent to not watering the tree.
How can you ignore these nagging thoughts that go with you to bed? Here are a few tips to help you:
1. Go to bed at a reasonable hour, not too early and not too late.
2. Lie down on your bed and relax your body.
3. For 2-3 minutes pay attention to every muscle in your body from head to toe. If you find any tense muscle, relax it.
4. For about one minute, let thoughts come freely into your mind.
5. Watch these thoughts as they come and go.
6. Tell your mind that if it has any important thoughts that require attention, you are willing to discuss them tomorrow.
7. If one of the thoughts is too persistent, write it down so that you can remember to think about it the next day.
8. Now try to look at the thoughts with lack of interest. Lack of interest is the magic word when it comes to controlling and silencing thoughts. Do not let your feelings to be aroused and manipulated by your thoughts.
If thoughts still come, and they probably will, it is all right. Don't fight them, but just try to ignore them by losing any interest in them. An ignored thought ultimately goes away. Don't worry if you fail at first. Keep on trying and the situation will improve.
9. Watch the thoughts that enter your mind, as if watching a boring movie and they will lose their power.
10. There is another thing that can be done, and that is to practice meditation every day.
After practicing meditation for some time it will affect your sleep. As a by-product of meditation your mind will get accustomed to being relaxed and at peace, and when you go to sleep it will be much easier to ignore persistent and disturbing thoughts. In fact, you might fall asleep immediately upon switching off the light.
Do you fall asleep immediately after entering bed, or do thoughts and worries flow into your mind, keeping your sleep away? Do you find it hard to ignore them?
While lying in bed at night, it is quiet and dark, there are fewer outside distractions, and therefore you are more aware of the movements of your mind. You feel that thoughts are attacking you, not giving you a moment's rest, especially if you are experiencing some problems in your life.
If you are not healthy you will probably think about your health. If you have problems at work, then thoughts about these problems will probably flood your mind. A child will have thoughts about his parents, teachers or examinations, and a businessman about his work. Thoughts, worries and fears that are usually repressed during the day surface up and swarm the mind.
What would be willing to do to free yourself from these nibbling, restless thoughts that prevent you from falling asleep? Won't you be happy to be able to silence all the thoughts that pop up when you are in bed?
If you fight these thoughts and try to stop them forcefully, they will grow stronger, because you will be giving them more attention. If you want to get rid of a tree growing in your garden and cut it down, it will grow again quite fast, but if you stop irrigating the tree, it will gradually wither. You need to treat your thoughts in the same manner. In order to reduce their quantity and strength, you have to ignore them, which is equivalent to not watering the tree.
How can you ignore these nagging thoughts that go with you to bed? Here are a few tips to help you:
1. Go to bed at a reasonable hour, not too early and not too late.
2. Lie down on your bed and relax your body.
3. For 2-3 minutes pay attention to every muscle in your body from head to toe. If you find any tense muscle, relax it.
4. For about one minute, let thoughts come freely into your mind.
5. Watch these thoughts as they come and go.
6. Tell your mind that if it has any important thoughts that require attention, you are willing to discuss them tomorrow.
7. If one of the thoughts is too persistent, write it down so that you can remember to think about it the next day.
8. Now try to look at the thoughts with lack of interest. Lack of interest is the magic word when it comes to controlling and silencing thoughts. Do not let your feelings to be aroused and manipulated by your thoughts.
If thoughts still come, and they probably will, it is all right. Don't fight them, but just try to ignore them by losing any interest in them. An ignored thought ultimately goes away. Don't worry if you fail at first. Keep on trying and the situation will improve.
9. Watch the thoughts that enter your mind, as if watching a boring movie and they will lose their power.
10. There is another thing that can be done, and that is to practice meditation every day.
After practicing meditation for some time it will affect your sleep. As a by-product of meditation your mind will get accustomed to being relaxed and at peace, and when you go to sleep it will be much easier to ignore persistent and disturbing thoughts. In fact, you might fall asleep immediately upon switching off the light.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Hosni Mubarak
Egyptian President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak was born in 1928 in Al-Monofeya governorate in northern Egypt.
After high school, Mr. Mubarak joined the Egyptian Military Academy, where he received his bachelor degree in Military Sciences. He also gained a Bachelor in Aviation Sciences form the Air Force Academy in the 1950’s.
Mr. Mubarak held several senior positions in the Egyptian Air Force as a Pilot, Instructor, Squadron Leader and Base Commander.
He was appointed as the head of the Egyptian Military delegation to the USSR in 1964. Later, he became the Commander of the Western Air Force Base, at Cairo West Airfield.
Form 1967 to 1972, Mr. Mubarak was the Head of the Air Force Academy and the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Air Force. In late 1972, he was appointed as the Commander of the Air Force and Deputy Minister of Military Affairs. In October 1973, he was promoted to the rank of Air Marshall.
Mr. Mubarak was later appointed as Vice President of Egypt in April 1975. Three years later, he became Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP).
President
After the assassination of President Anwar Al Sadat in 1981, Mr. Mubarak became President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Chairman of the National Democratic Party.
He was re-elected in 1987, 1993, and 1999 for three successive terms. He is expected to run again for office in 2005. This makes him the longest-serving leader in Egypt since Mohammad Ali in the early 19th century, and the longest-serving ruler among other Arab countries.
Mr. Mubarak survived at least six assassination attempts. He is married to Mrs. Suzanne Thabet, who is part Welsh and part Egyptian and they have two sons, Alaa and Gamal as well as two grandsons.
During his career in the military, Mr. Mubarak was credited for improving the air force after the defeat in the Middle East war with Israel in 1967. He was also among the planners of the 1973 Yom Kippur war, which led to the peace agreement with Israel and the return of Sinai to Egypt.
Mr. Mubarak continued Al Sadat’s economic liberalization, but didn’t succeed in introducing economic reforms. Analysts suggest that this was one of the main reasons behind high poverty rates in Egypt.
Regarding politics, Mr. Mubarak chose to maintain friendly ties with Western countries. He succeeded in breaking the isolation imposed on Cairo by Arab nations who opposed to peace with Israel.
At home, he succeeded to end a spate of violence that hit Egypt in the late 1980s and early 1990’s.
Vice President
Mr. Mubarak ignored calls to select a vice-president to ensure an easier succession, as stipulated by Egypt’s constitution. The succession has become a hot issue, especially during his long trip in June 2004 for a back operation in Germany.
Reports that he is grooming his younger son Gamal to succeed him have fueled the opposition but have been strongly denied by the president.
Gamal is the head of the powerful Policy Commission of the ruling National Democratic Party. He is supported by the young reformists in the party and young figures of Industry.
Since the 1952 revolution, Egyptian Presidents have been drawn from the military. Some analysts believe that the military and the security services want this trend to continue. This makes the head of the security services, Ommar Solayman, a serious candidate to succeed Mr. Mubarak.
Gaddafi slams UN Security Council
Libya's president has attacked the permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council during his first ever address to the UN General Assembly.
In a one-and-a-half hour speech in New York on Wednesday, Muammar Gaddafi said the veto-wielding nations of the Security Council were ignoring the views of the full 192 members of the General Assembly and the principles of the UN charter.
"The preamble [of the charter] says all nations are equal whether they are small or big," Gaddafi said in his address.
But he accused the permanent members of the council of undermining other states.
"The veto [held by the five permanent UN members] is against the charter, we do not accept it and we do not acknowledge it," Gaddafi said.
"Veto power should be annulled."
'Terror and sanctions'
In a speech that far exceeded the 15-minute slot he was allocated, the Libyan leader read aloud sections from a paperback copy of the UN charter, before throwing it over his shoulder on several occasions.
"I think the Libyans deserve much better than this. It is a disaster for Arab world opinion. Tearing up the UN Charter is shocking, but this should have been expected from the beginning"
Mohamed Ben-Madani, editor of the Maghreb Review"The Security Council did not provide us with security but with terror and sanctions," he said.
He said the council, comprising the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China, had failed to prevent or intervene in 65 wars that have taken place since the United Nations was established in 1948.
He called for $7.77 trillion in compensation to be paid to Africa from its past colonial masters, and one point questioned the assassination of US President John F Kennedy.
"The assassination of Kennedy in 1963 - we want to know, who killed him? Lee Harvey? Why was Harvey killed?" he said, referring to the man who was arrested in connection with Kennedy's murder and shot dead while being transferred between jails.
Mohamed Ben-Madani, editor of the Maghreb Review, told Al Jazeera's that Gaddafi's speech was a "disaster" for the African Union and Arab and Muslim delegations at the UN General Assembly.
"I think the Libyans deserve much better than this. It is a disaster for Arab world opinion. Tearing up the UN Charter is shocking, but this should have been expected from the beginning," he said.
"He said nothing about Libyan human rights and better education [for Libyans]. He said nothing about climate change or the enviroment."
'No respect'
The five permanent members should lose their veto, or the UN should expand the council with additional member states, Gaddafi also said.
The US senate condemned the celebrations in Tripoli after al-Megrahi's release [Reuters]"It should not be called the Security Council, it should be called the 'terror council'," he said, adding that the permanent members treat smaller countries as "second class [and] despised" nations.
"Now, brothers, there is no respect for the United Nations, no regard for the General Assembly," he said.
As Gaddafi spoke, the US senate approved a resolution condemning the "lavish" welcome-home ceremony that Libya gave last month for Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, who was convicted of the bombing over a US passenger aircraft over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1989.
The US senate demanded that Tripoli apologise for the celebration, which came after Scotland's justice minister released al-Megrahi, a former agent, on compassionate grounds.
Libya has a temporary seat on the Security Council until the end of 2010.
Iran hits out at Western 'terror'
Iran's president has launched a scathing attack on Western powers, accusing them of spreading "war, bloodshed, aggression, terror and intimidation" in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that Tehran was "prepared to warmly shake all those hands which are honestly extended to us".
But he accused the West of hypocrisy - saying it preached democracy yet violated its fundamental principles - and added that it was time for the world to respond.
"The awakening of nations and the expansion of freedom worldwide will no longer allow them to continue their hypocrisy and vicious attitudes," he said.
'Inhuman policies'
He also spoke out against Israel for its "barbaric" attack on the Gaza Strip, "inhuman policies" in the Palestinian territories and what he called its domination of world political and economic affairs.
"How can crimes of the occupiers against defenceless women and children and destruction of their homes, farms, hospitals and schools be supported unconditionally by certain governments?"
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president"How can crimes of the occupiers against defenceless women and children and destruction of their homes, farms, hospitals and schools be supported unconditionally by certain governments?
"It is no longer acceptable that a small minority would dominate the politics, economy and culture of major parts of the world by its complicated networks, and establish a new form of slavery, and harm the reputation of other nations, even European nations and the US, to attain its racist ambitions," he said.
Already speaking to a half-empty chamber, his attacks on Israel prompted walkouts by several delegations, including the US one.
Under increasing pressure over his country's nuclear programme, Ahmadinejad did not directly address the issue, calling only for the "eradication of arms race and elimination of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons to pave the way for all nations to have access to advanced and peaceful technologies".
Moments before he spoke, foreign ministers of six global powers demanded Iran prepare a "serious response" by October 1 to demands it halt its nuclear programme or face serious consequences.'Seize the opportunity'
Earlier in the day, Barack Obama, the US president, took Iran to task for its nuclear ambitions, warning that Tehran was running short of time and urging it to "seize the opportunity" at the talks with the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.
Ahmadinejad has said he will not negotiate on Iran's right to enrich uranium [EPA]Hillary Mann Leverett, who has worked with the US national security council and state department, told Al Jazeera that Ahmadinejad had "very forcefully" taken on Obama in his address.
"I think Ahmadinejad really put the issue of double standards on the table - double standards over nuclear, double standards over what he called 'military occupation'," she said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has not been forthcoming about its nuclear programme and the UN Security Council has imposed sanctions against Iran three times since 2006 for its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment.
Tougher sanctions against Iran are being considered if the October 1 talks between the six powers and Iran do not yield results.Russian move
In a sign that Russian and the US could be moving closer on how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme, Moscow, which has stood in the way of stronger action against Tehran in the past, also came out on Wednesday to say Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, also appeared to suggest that Moscow was moving closer to backing fresh sanctions against Iran, saying that while such tactics were rarely productive, "in some cases sanctions are inevitable".
"Our task is to maintain a system of incentives allowing Iran to use peaceful nuclear energy but [we] will not allow the creation of nuclear weapons," Medvedev said after meeting Obama on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
He added that the world should offer incentives "to help Iran make the right decision".
The US and its allies believe Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons, while Tehran maintains that it is only building a peaceful nuclear energy programme.
Ahmadinejad has said he expects "free and open" discussions at the October 1 meeting but insists that Iran will not negotiate uranium enrichment.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that Tehran was "prepared to warmly shake all those hands which are honestly extended to us".
But he accused the West of hypocrisy - saying it preached democracy yet violated its fundamental principles - and added that it was time for the world to respond.
"The awakening of nations and the expansion of freedom worldwide will no longer allow them to continue their hypocrisy and vicious attitudes," he said.
'Inhuman policies'
He also spoke out against Israel for its "barbaric" attack on the Gaza Strip, "inhuman policies" in the Palestinian territories and what he called its domination of world political and economic affairs.
"How can crimes of the occupiers against defenceless women and children and destruction of their homes, farms, hospitals and schools be supported unconditionally by certain governments?"
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president"How can crimes of the occupiers against defenceless women and children and destruction of their homes, farms, hospitals and schools be supported unconditionally by certain governments?
"It is no longer acceptable that a small minority would dominate the politics, economy and culture of major parts of the world by its complicated networks, and establish a new form of slavery, and harm the reputation of other nations, even European nations and the US, to attain its racist ambitions," he said.
Already speaking to a half-empty chamber, his attacks on Israel prompted walkouts by several delegations, including the US one.
Under increasing pressure over his country's nuclear programme, Ahmadinejad did not directly address the issue, calling only for the "eradication of arms race and elimination of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons to pave the way for all nations to have access to advanced and peaceful technologies".
Moments before he spoke, foreign ministers of six global powers demanded Iran prepare a "serious response" by October 1 to demands it halt its nuclear programme or face serious consequences.'Seize the opportunity'
Earlier in the day, Barack Obama, the US president, took Iran to task for its nuclear ambitions, warning that Tehran was running short of time and urging it to "seize the opportunity" at the talks with the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.
Ahmadinejad has said he will not negotiate on Iran's right to enrich uranium [EPA]Hillary Mann Leverett, who has worked with the US national security council and state department, told Al Jazeera that Ahmadinejad had "very forcefully" taken on Obama in his address.
"I think Ahmadinejad really put the issue of double standards on the table - double standards over nuclear, double standards over what he called 'military occupation'," she said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has not been forthcoming about its nuclear programme and the UN Security Council has imposed sanctions against Iran three times since 2006 for its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment.
Tougher sanctions against Iran are being considered if the October 1 talks between the six powers and Iran do not yield results.Russian move
In a sign that Russian and the US could be moving closer on how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme, Moscow, which has stood in the way of stronger action against Tehran in the past, also came out on Wednesday to say Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, also appeared to suggest that Moscow was moving closer to backing fresh sanctions against Iran, saying that while such tactics were rarely productive, "in some cases sanctions are inevitable".
"Our task is to maintain a system of incentives allowing Iran to use peaceful nuclear energy but [we] will not allow the creation of nuclear weapons," Medvedev said after meeting Obama on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
He added that the world should offer incentives "to help Iran make the right decision".
The US and its allies believe Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons, while Tehran maintains that it is only building a peaceful nuclear energy programme.
Ahmadinejad has said he expects "free and open" discussions at the October 1 meeting but insists that Iran will not negotiate uranium enrichment.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The newly elected Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was just an obscure figure when he was appointed as Tehran’s mayor in 2003.
Also he wasn't much known when he participated in the Iranian presidential race.
Ahmadinejad spent no money on his campaign, he won with the backing of the country’s powerful conservatives who used mosques to mobilize support for him.
The new Iranian President is widely viewed as a representative of the country’s ultra- conservatives and a close disciple of Supreme Leader Seyed Ali Khamenei.
His rival, who had won more votes in the first round, was the country’s former-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, whom Ahmadinejad defeated with 61.69% of the vote out of the about twenty-eight million votes, a turnout of about 59.6%.
Ahmadinejad's simple lifestyle and his populist views had won support especially amongst Iran's poorer classes.
At first, Rafsanjani rejected the poll results and alleged a "dirty tricks" campaign, but later said that the Iranian people should "assist" the president-elect nonetheless.
Ahmadinejad, a former revolutionary guard, has a populist streak. He calls his personal website “Mardomyar”, or the people's friend.
Due to his family background, Ahmadinejad lives a simple life and campaigned against corruption.
Ahmadinejad, son of a blacksmith, was born in 1956 in Garmsar, near Tehran.
He holds a PhD in traffic and transport from Tehran's University of Science and Technology.
Ahmadinejad started his political career as a consultant of the mayor of the southwestern city Shahr Kord in late 1970's.
During Iran-Iraq in the 1980’s, Ahmadinejad joined the armed forces. It is said that he used to work as a secret agent during the war, which he has repeatedly denied.
After that, Ahmadinejad was appointed to be mayor of the northwestern city of Maku bordering Turkey.
In late 1990's, he was appointed as the governor of the northwestern province of Ardabil, a post that brought him the annual honor of "Model Governor" for three consecutive times.
Later on, he was appointed as chief of the special forces of the hardline Revolutionary Guards.
In 2003, Ahmadinejad was elected as Tehran mayor.
Ahmadinejad often takes home-made meals to office and lives in an ordinary flat, which makes him supported by people of lower social status in the country.
He is one of the strongest defenders of Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme, which the U.S. claims is being used as a covert to produce nuclear weapons.
"They will not allow us to progress easily but we should not surrender to their will," he says on his website.
He doesn’t encourage establishing formal ties with Washington, frozen since 1979.
"America's unilateral move to sever ties with the Islamic Republic was aimed at destroying the Islamic revolution... America was free to sever its ties with Iran, but it remains Iran's decision to re-establish relations with America."
He is enthusiastically supported by the country’s younger, second-generation revolutionaries.
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