Israel displays seized weapons

While Israel fights allegations of war crimes during last winter's war in the Gaza strip, the Israeli military displayed hundreds of crates containing tonnes of ammunition, mortars, grenades and rockets it claims were seized from a cargo ship en route from Iran to Hezbollah militants based in Lebanon.

The weapons were displayed Thursday for foreign diplomats and military attaches. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the weapons were intended to be used against its citizens and constituted a "war crime".

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, said, "What is happening is the UN is meeting to condemn Israel with a view of undermining our legitimate right of self-defense. This will not happen. We'll continue to defend ourselves."

In the Muslim world, officials worry Israel might use the seizure to divert attention from urgent regional issues.

Iran's state-run media says "Israeli propaganda" aims at diverting attention from allegations of Israeli war crimes against the Palestinians. A Syrian Foreign Ministry official expressed the same sentiment. Palestinians worry Israel will pounce on an excuse to avoid making peace in the region.