Khatami denies handshake with Israeli counterpart

ABC ^ | 4/9/05 | ABC

[freedom44]

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has "strongly denied" Israeli media reports that he shook hands with Israeli President Moshe Katzav at Pope John Paul II's funeral, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reports.

"These allegations are false like all the other allegations (by the Israeli media) and I have not had any meeting with a personality from the Zionist regime," Mr Khatami is quoted as saying.

Israeli media has reported that during the requiem mass in St Peter's Square, Iranian-born Mr Katzav shook the hand of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and exchanged a few words in Persian with Mr Khatami.

The report says the during the brief exchange between Mr Khatami and Mr Katsav, the two leaders discussed the central Iranian town of Yazd where they were both born.

Mr Khatami said on his return: "We have repeated many times that morally and logically, we do not recognise the existence of the state of Israel... which was created by force and usurpation" of Palestinian rights.

[OldFriend]

LOLOL.....kind of reminds me of that kiss Dubya planted on LIEberman.

Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways.

[Clara Lou]

There are lies, and there are damned lies.

[billorites]

[West Coast Conservative]

God forbid he touches a Joooo!!

[Chi-townChief]

God forbid this Persian should grasp a hand extended in peace from an infidel!

[feedback doctor]

The President of Israel displays graciousness to someone sworn to be his enemy. That's enough reason to drive Israel into the sea, iSlam does not allow graciousness. Look EU, and all you liberal arab apologists in the west, ISrael tries to get along, and is rejected. Yep sounds to me like ISrael is the obstacle here.

/sarcasm