Sharon asserts Israel 's rights at U.N.

published by UPI, September 15, 2005

In his first address at the United Nations as prime minister, Israel 's Ariel Sharon described Israel 's immovable position.

Speaking the 2005 World Summit Thursday, he told world leaders he believed the Israeli people had an "eternal and unimpeachable" right to the land of Israel .

Speaking in Hebrew, the Israeli leader began by saying, "I arrived here from Jerusalem , the capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, and the undivided and eternal capital of the state of Israel ."

Jerusalem is also claimed by the Palestinians

However, he reiterated Israel 's full commitment to the Middle East peace process despite "the immensity of pain" he felt at making concessions with the Palestinians in the name of peace.

Sharon added he felt certain the recent departure of Israeli citizens and troops from the Gaza Strip was the "right path" for Israel .

"Peace is a supreme value in the Jewish legacy, and is the desired goal of our policy," he said. However Sharon added he would not compromise on "the right of the state of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, with defensible borders, in full security and without threats and terror."

He then called on Palestinian leaders to follow through on their commitments to end "terror and its infrastructures."

Israel 's prime minister also raised concerns that "there are those who sit here as representatives of a country whose leadership calls to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. The attempts of that country to arm itself with nuclear weapons must disturb the sleep of anyone who desires peace and stability in the Middle East and the entire world."

He was referring to Iran 's threatened reaction to an attack on its nuclear facilities.