Israeli President Praises Election Results in Iran as ‘Desire for Change’

Perspectives from Israel

Israeli President Shimon Peres said on Sunday that the victory of Hassan Rouhani in Iranian presidential election signaled “a desire for change on the Iranian street.” Peres, however, was cautious in his praise of the president-elect, saying it would only be possible to judge Mr. Rouhani on his future actions.

Peres’s comments marked something of a departure from those of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who earlier on Sunday cautioned against thinking things would change under Rouhani.

“Let us not delude ourselves,” Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting. “The international community must not become caught up in wishes and be tempted to relax the pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear program… (President-elect Rouhani) still defines the State of Israel as ‘the great Zionist Satan.’” [The Times of Israel, 16 June]

Meanwhile, the chair of Israeli opposition party Meretz said Rouhani’s victory and Ahmadinejad’s departure was a blow to Netanyahu and the extremist leadership in Israel.

“I extend my sympathy to the Israeli government that must bid farewell to Ahmadinejad, who served as propaganda card and as an excellent source of excuses to avoid dealing with Israel’s real problems,” Meretz’s Zahava Gal-on said. “I fear that the election of the moderate Rouhani is not just a blow to the extremists in Tehran, but also to the extremist leadership in Israel, which will now have to replace intimidation with actions,” she added. (Times of Israel, 16 June)

For yet another Israeli perspective on Rouhani’s election, please click to read Maariv’s Nadav Eyal article, “The People in Iran Have Turned the Table.”  The article is translated from Hebrew by Victoria Lymar and published in today’s edition of IranEdge.

Photo credit: Celebrations on the streets of Tehran after Rouhani’s victory. (AP/Ma’ariv/IranEdge)

50 Shades of Red

“While Obama is dealing with the red line he has drawn in regard to the chemical weapons in Syria, Netanyahu's line on the Iranian nuke seems to be forgotten. It is not.”

                    50 Shades of Red

An Israeli Perspective by Nadav Eyal / Ma'ariv
Translated by Viktoria Lymar/ IranEdge

Too Good to Be True?

An Israeli Perspective on Obama’s Visit

“Obama embraced, flattered, promised lavish aid and spread amity and love all the way to Jerusalem. Even the disagreements on Iran – he has wrapped them in cellophane. But ultimately, the President of the United States wants to delay an Israeli attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities and perhaps, reach a settlement with the Palestinians in other ways, sweeter than honey – and he also has a prominent domestic American interest. Meanwhile he's buying anew the hearts of the Israelis.”

The views of Shalom Yerushalmi / Ma'ariv
Translated by Viktoria Lymar / IranEdge
21/22 March 2013

To read the article, please click here.

Photo credit: Shlomo Cohen/Israel Hayom