Outrage after Iranian President calls Israel a 'wound'

Pro-Palestine: During Al-Quds Day in Tehran on Friday crowds burned effigies painted in US flags. Photo: AFP

Iran's newly elected president, Hassan Rouhani, has caused a stir after being quoted likening Israel to a ''wound'' inflicted on the Muslim world that ''should be removed''.

Iranian state media later said Dr Rouhani had been misquoted and a video released by Iran's Press TV seemed to support a more mild official translation of the comments he made during the annual Al-Quds Day ceremony to demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians.

But the clarification came too late for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed it proved the new Iranian regime was not as moderate as some in the West may hope.

''Rouhani's true face has been revealed earlier than expected,'' Mr Netanyahu said. ''The president there has changed, but the goal of the regime has not.''

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Iranian state media maintained Dr Rouhani had called the occupation of Muslim lands, mainly Jerusalem, a ''wound'' and had said nothing about anything being ''removed''.

An Israeli spokesman said that Israel believed the original interpretation reflected Iran's true ''extremist agenda''.

Los Angeles Times

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