Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., March 27, 2009 Nisan 2, 5769 | | Israel Time: 14:09 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 20:41 22/03/2009
Peres' holiday greetings to the people of Iran
Tags: shimon peres, iran 

The following is the complete text of President Peres' message to the Iranian people:

Dear citizens of Iran,

IRANIAN-EH AZIZ, RUZ-EH NOV VANORUZE BASTANT BEH SHOMA KHOSH BAD
Advertisement
With great happiness I would like to wish you, on the occasion of your holiday of Nowruz, a holiday of renewal that brings joy and hope for a new day, for better days, and for a new and blessed year. What a joy it is, this, your historical holiday that you have celebrated and kept for generations.

The people of Israel have lofty historical memories from the period in which Iran thrived in a variety of fields and contributed to the world, among other things, Cyrus's ancient Bill of Rights, and to the Jewish people, our right to return to our land from the Babylonian Exile in order to establish the Temple in Jerusalem. Iran and its people therefore have a special place in our heritage.

Our relations with the Iranian people have also known good times in the modern period. We shared our experience in agriculture, industry, and scientific and medical development, and we cultivated the best possible relations.

To our great sadness, relations between our countries are at their lowest point. This derives from the leaders of your country, who are driven to act in every way possible against the State of Israel and its people, and even to threaten us with their intention to destroy us. I ask myself how a noble people like you can be caught up in a blind hatred like this, how you chose a leader who scorns the people who were murdered by the Nazis, and who wants to destroy and kill another country. You believe in God, and we believe in God, but in a God of life and respect, not a God of death and hate. I am sure that the day is not far when we will return to good neighborly relations, and effective cooperation will blossom once again, in every arena, for the benefit of our people and our shared futures.

At this time, when the current regime in Iran is calling for the destruction of Israel, we call for Iran to prosper. We remember Cyrus the Great, who is noted in the Bible as the liberating king, and we remember that our people lived in Iran for many generations, sharing in the building of the land and contributing to to its welfare and culture. We are certain and hopeful that the darkness and the evil will disappear from the world for the good of all of humanity.

On the occasion of the new year, I turn to the noble Iranian people in the name of the ancient Jewish people, and I wish that they will return to reclaim their rightful place amongst the enlightened nations of the world. They will be respected and not hated, and just as they have in the past, I am certain that they will make great cultural contributions in the future.

I will conclude with the traditional blessing:

NORUZETAN PIRUZ HAR RUZETAN NORUZ BA
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Debate over war dead
IDF says 1,166 Palestinians killed in Gaza offensive, including 295 civilians.
Simpsons to visit Israel
Homer Simpson is about to face his greatest challenge - bringing peace to the Mideast.
  1.   See the problem with this AND Obama is... 02:55  |  Socius 23/03/09
  2.   What a beautiful, wise and noble message this is. 03:00  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/03/09
  3.   A view from an Iranian 18:50  |  Korosh 23/03/09
  4.   Peres` holiday greetings to the people of Iran 21:25  |  Susan 23/03/09
  5.   Norouz Greeting 02:10  |  Iranian Abroad 24/03/09
  6.   #4 To my fellow Iranain abroad. 02:35  |  Iranian inside 25/03/09
  7.   President`s message 12:45  |  Asghar 25/03/09
  8.   #7 Asghar 22:09  |  Sharon 25/03/09
  9.   Peres` Holiday Greetings To the Iranian People 13:12  |  sassan 27/03/09
 Haaretz Hot Topics
Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
Israel goes to the polls
Conflict in Gaza
Israel vs. Hamas
Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
More Headlines
12:49 NYT: U.S. confirms IDF strike on Sudan convoy
12:45 Sources: Egypt boosts Sudan troops over Gaza smuggling
04:02 ANALYSIS / Sudan strike won't make Iran give up on Hamas
12:46 Israel denies compromise with Hamas in Shalit deal
09:50 Gaza witness: IDF troops told us 'Go south or you'll get shot'
06:35 Anshel Pfeffer / How IDF testimonies led to the 'Haaretz blood libel'
23:11 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
12:45 Erdogan says ready to mediate peace talks between Israel, Syria
07:52 Will Egypt-Israel peace survive after Mubarak leaves office?
07:12 ANALYSIS / Sudan has become playground for terror groups
06:51 Netanyahu struggles with paucity of portfolios for Likud
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved