Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish holiday celebrating the new year.
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But Rouhani on Sunday called for a deeper respect between the often hostile pair, saying he hoped their “shared Abrahamic roots” would lead to “peace and mutual understanding”. L’Shanah Tovah is Hebrew for, May it be a good year.
The comment did not appear on the Farsi version of Rouhani’s account, suggesting the Iranian president was targeting his comments toward an worldwide audience at a time when the Iranian nuclear deal with world powers faces ratification amid strong Israeli opposition. He is believed to have tweeted a similar greeting in 2013, but presidential advisors denied he had posted it.
It becomes even more significant in Iran’s case, as the country has a history of discriminating against its Jewish community which dates back to 3,000 years. Then-Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi as soon as accused Jews as an entire of being drug sellers. The report reveals that now around 20,000 jews are still in Iran.
In a message to his Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega Saavedra, President Rouhani extended congratulations to the government and nation of Nicaragua on the Central American country’s Independence Day.
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However Iran does not yet recognize Israel and supports anti-Israeli militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
