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| Incoming Iranian Leader Calls Israeli Occupation ‘a Sore’ | Incoming Iranian Leader Calls Israeli Occupation ‘a Sore’ |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| TEHRAN — Iranian leaders have often called Israel a “cancerous tumor” that “should be wiped from the pages of time.” But on Friday, the country’s incoming president, Hassan Rouhani, struck a relatively more moderate tone by referring to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, rather than Israel itself, as “a sore.” | TEHRAN — Iranian leaders have often called Israel a “cancerous tumor” that “should be wiped from the pages of time.” But on Friday, the country’s incoming president, Hassan Rouhani, struck a relatively more moderate tone by referring to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, rather than Israel itself, as “a sore.” |
| Attending a celebration for the annual pro-Palestinian holiday in Iran known as Quds Day, named after the Arabic name for Jerusalem, Mr. Rouhani, said: “In our region, a sore has been sitting on the body of the Islamic world for many years, in the shadow of the occupation of the holy land of Palestine and the dear Quds. This day is in fact a reminder of the fact that Muslim people will not forgot their historic right and will continue to stand against aggression and tyranny.” | Attending a celebration for the annual pro-Palestinian holiday in Iran known as Quds Day, named after the Arabic name for Jerusalem, Mr. Rouhani, said: “In our region, a sore has been sitting on the body of the Islamic world for many years, in the shadow of the occupation of the holy land of Palestine and the dear Quds. This day is in fact a reminder of the fact that Muslim people will not forgot their historic right and will continue to stand against aggression and tyranny.” |
| His comments were made on video. However, local Iranian media reported the comments differently. They quoted Mr. Rouhani as saying the “Zionist regime is a sore which must be removed.” Later in the day they posted corrections. | |
| But Israel had already responded, reporting that Mr. Rouhani had said that Israel “has been a wound on the body of the Islamic world for years and should be removed.” | But Israel had already responded, reporting that Mr. Rouhani had said that Israel “has been a wound on the body of the Islamic world for years and should be removed.” |
| “Rouhani’s true face has been revealed earlier than expected,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said in a statement. “Even if they will now rush to deny his remarks, this is what the man thinks and this is the plan of the Iranian regime.” | “Rouhani’s true face has been revealed earlier than expected,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said in a statement. “Even if they will now rush to deny his remarks, this is what the man thinks and this is the plan of the Iranian regime.” |
| He said the comments underscored that regardless of the change of leadership in Iran, it continued to pursue the goal of achieving “nuclear weapons in order to threaten Israel, the Middle East and the peace and security of the entire world.” | He said the comments underscored that regardless of the change of leadership in Iran, it continued to pursue the goal of achieving “nuclear weapons in order to threaten Israel, the Middle East and the peace and security of the entire world.” |
| “A country that threatens the destruction of the State of Israel must not be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction,” the statement concluded. | “A country that threatens the destruction of the State of Israel must not be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction,” the statement concluded. |
| Mr. Rouhani has repeatedly said he wants to reduce the tensions with other countries caused by the departing president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He is, however, a firm supporter of Iran’s Islamic system and in his several books he denounces Israel. | Mr. Rouhani has repeatedly said he wants to reduce the tensions with other countries caused by the departing president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He is, however, a firm supporter of Iran’s Islamic system and in his several books he denounces Israel. |
Jodi Rudoren contributed reporting from Jerusalem. | Jodi Rudoren contributed reporting from Jerusalem. |