Of all the photographs taken over the years in the United Nations, the one we cherish the most is that of Prime Minister Begin of Israel addressing a chamber that was almost empty save for the envoy of America. We thought of it yesterday as President Bush offered a sweeping and inspiring vision in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly. “When it comes to the desire for liberty and justice, there is no clash of civilizations. People everywhere are capable of freedom, and worthy of freedom,” he said, as his audience of dictators or their envoys sat stony faced, withholding applause. He quoted the Burmese democracy advocate, Aung San Suu Kyi: “We do not accept the notion that democracy is a Western value.”

We’re with the president all the way on this. All the more disappointing it turned out to be that the only country other than the genocidal regime in Sudan that was singled out for condemnation in the president’s speech was the lone free democracy in the Middle East, Israel. “Israel should impose a settlement freeze, dismantle unauthorized outposts, end the daily humiliation of the Palestinian people, and avoid any actions that prejudice final negotiations,” the president said. The president’s speech contained not even a nod recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself in the face of terrorist assaults. Such discriminatory demands and false accusations are no way for America to treat a friend and a fellow democracy. The words undermine and contradict the rest of the president’s otherwise powerful message.