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Last update - 11:36 08/10/2007
Israeli, Iranian diplomats meet at Chile launch of book on Zionist youth movement
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

A senior Israeli diplomat in Santiago, Chile had a surprising encounter several days ago with the Iranian ambassador to the country, at an event launching a book about the history of a Zionist youth group in Chile.

Moshe Bachar, who is second in command to the Israeli ambassador, arrived at the Chilean Foreign Ministry for a ceremony celebrating the launch of a book about the "Hashomer Hatzair" movement in Chile.

Bachar began shaking the hands of the various diplomatic staff in attendance, when he noticed the outstretched hand of the Iranian ambassador.
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After shaking his hand, Bachar sat next to the Iranian, introduced himself and asked him, "Do you know what this event is for?"

The Iranian ambassador responded in the affirmative, and read aloud from the invitation to the ceremony, which said the event was held "in cooperation with the Jewish community in Chile."

Bachar, who was still convinced that the Iranian ambassador was confused, told him that the book is about the history of the Zionist youth movement "Hashomer Hatzair," the Chilean branch of which was founded by Jewish families who immigrated to the country from Germany prior to World War Two.

The Iranian envoy responded by saying, "Did you know that Iran has a Jewish community, and the government affords it freedom of religion and also a representative in parliament?"

Bachar told the ambassador he was aware of that fact, adding that the "Persian King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to the Land of Israel."

After several minutes of conversation, the Iranian ambassador seemed to regain his composure, telling Bachar, "Don't take offense, it isn't personal, but we are not allowed to speak with Israeli diplomats."

"I respect this, but it is our job as diplomats to talk and maybe contribute to understanding between the two sides," Bachar responded.

The encounter was not the first between Israeli and Iranian representatives abroad in recent weeks. Last month, following the deadly air disaster on the Thai island of Phuket, an Iranian diplomat sought the help of Israeli forensic experts in transferring the bodies of Iranian crash victims to Bangkok.

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  1.   so hashomer hatszair is just an excuse now 09:51  |  Rowan Berkeley 08/10/07
  2.   Crumbs, but nevertheless... 10:01  |  Esther 08/10/07
  3.   HE SHOULD BE FIRED AT ONCE 10:28  |  indrajaya 08/10/07
  4.   The other Iran 10:32  |  Rodrigo 08/10/07
  5.   There is a great sympathy between Israeli and Iranian people 10:34  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 08/10/07
  6.   This is not true 10:37  |  Shahim 08/10/07
  7.   There was no need to report this 10:47  |  Michael Steiner 08/10/07
  8.   has the ambassador applied for 11:04  |  ziggurat 08/10/07
  9.   Rowan never misses an opportunity 11:04  |  Yonatan 08/10/07
  10.   #6 Shahim - "This is not true" 11:06  |  Yonatan 08/10/07
  11.   Shahim 11:09  |  Shiri 08/10/07
  12.   Indrajaya - You are the true warmonger 11:09  |  Yonatan 08/10/07
  13.   Iran ambassador should fear for his life 11:13  |  aj 08/10/07
  14.   I`ll bet he was drunk 11:15  |  Conroy 08/10/07
  15.   Iranians versus their current president 11:20  |  Sherlock Holmes 08/10/07
  16.   We await the denials 11:27  |  Slibovitz 08/10/07
  17.   two seemingly decent men 11:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/10/07
  18.   Indrajaya & firing the diplomat 11:52  |  Stan 08/10/07
  19.   Adequate proof that most Iranians are decent people 11:57  |  Israeli 08/10/07
  20.   You don`t shoot the diplomats!! 12:10  |  a wandering Jew 08/10/07
  21.   to #10 Yonatan 12:29  |  Marcelo 08/10/07
  22.   LOOK AT THE NARRATIVE OF THIS NEWS STORY 12:46  |  JACKAL 08/10/07
  23.   WHAT FOR? 12:48  |  indrajaya 08/10/07
  24.   # 22 JACKAL 13:19  |  Lynn 08/10/07
  25.   Yonatan re Indy 13:22  |  Lynn 08/10/07
  26.   # 6 Shahim 13:23  |  Lynn 08/10/07
  27.   Shlomo&Esther,Jews participated in 1938 Olympics, 13:41  |  Absolute Sweden 08/10/07
  28.   Zionism and the oppression of Palestinians are the problem 13:46  |  Iranian Citizen 08/10/07
  29.   To #1 Rowan Berkeley 14:01  |  David 08/10/07
  30.   Perversion by Absolute #27 14:10  |  Esther 08/10/07
  31.   THE Mullah dictatorship does not represent all Iran by defintion. 14:27  |  PETER SM 08/10/07
  32.   IRANIAN CITIZEN Islamofascist rejection of peace is the problem 14:48  |  PETER SM 08/10/07
  33.   dont blame indrajaya - "it" doesnt know better 14:54  |  ken 08/10/07
  34.   Iranian citizen 15:07  |  Lynn 08/10/07
  35.   #33 ken - What you wrote reminfs me of 15:16  |  Yonatan 08/10/07
  36.   # 3 Indrajaya 15:54  |  Edith 08/10/07
  37.   Shahin -- I spoke to Iran ambassador to the UN 16:10  |  Jo 08/10/07
  38.   I am a Chilean Jew, live here, and would like say: 16:19  |  S.O.S. 08/10/07
  39.   To Rowan Berkeley # 1 16:25  |  Fortuna Benmayor 08/10/07
  40.   I agree, Michael Steiner 16:30  |  Fortuna Benmayor 08/10/07
  41.   Lets support the dissidents of Tehran U. 16:50  |  Ronnie Wolman 08/10/07
  42.   Lets support the dissidents of Tehran U. 16:50  |  Ronnie Wolman 08/10/07
  43.   Lets support the dissidents of Tehran U. 16:50  |  Ronnie Wolman 08/10/07
  44.   "Jo",Syrian Ambassador to the US has contacted an Israeli firm 16:59  |  Absolute Sweden 08/10/07
  45.   No. 38 SOS--Does the Catholic oppose them? 17:17  |  a wandering Jew 08/10/07
  46.   No 38 SOS Does the Chatolic Church oppose them? 17:41  |  a wandering Jew 08/10/07
  47.   The foolishness of demonization 18:04  |  David Hoffman 08/10/07
  48.   To Shlomo from Tel Aviv 18:11  |  Persian Kitty 08/10/07
  49.   indrajaya 18:22  |  robbins 08/10/07
  50.   There Are Plenty of Decent Iranians 18:29  |  Jane 08/10/07
  51.   #28 HAVE YOU OFFERED TO HOUSE THEM IN THE VAST SPACES OF IRAN 18:35  |  paul harris 08/10/07
  52.   To Marcelo #21 18:41  |  Persian Kitty 08/10/07
  53.   To Ronnie Wolman 18:43  |  Persian Kitty 08/10/07
  54.   to Iranian Citizen - Zion is my home 18:53  |  Bob 08/10/07
  55.   rowan the nazi 18:57  |  i know 08/10/07
  56.   To Bob in Boston 19:10  |  Persian Kitty 08/10/07
  57.   to a wandering Jew, # 46 19:11  |  S.O.S. 08/10/07
  58.   # 5 Rewrite the Quraan There is indeed great sympathy 19:13  |  Abushanan Alfayoumi 08/10/07
  59.   Thank you, Bob, excellent comment # 54 19:16  |  Fortuna Benmayor 08/10/07
  60.   #49 about Indrajaya 19:24  |  Chris 08/10/07
  61.   Persian Kitty: Dizzidents 20:22  |  Ronnie Wolman 08/10/07
  62.   #28, Iranian citizen 21:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/10/07
  63.   To Bob, Persian Kitty 21:59  |  Rodrigo 08/10/07
  64.   An incredible story! 22:15  |  Roxana from Iran 08/10/07
  65.   To Rodrigo 22:17  |  Persian Kitty 08/10/07
  66.   Ha Ha Yosemite Sam Wins! Too Bad Indy! 22:31  |  Yosemite 08/10/07
  67.   A Real Bridge To The Iranian People 22:34  |  True Moral 08/10/07
  68.   # 3 Indrajaya, keep up the good work 22:41  |  Ispy 08/10/07
  69.   Good News 22:54  |  Shahin 08/10/07
  70.   We love our Iranian Jews 23:18  |  Shahin 08/10/07
  71.   Re 3 A first for me 23:34  |  Alan the real one 08/10/07
  72.   DONT WORRY, FOLKS 23:41  |  Indrajaya 08/10/07
  73.   To Roxana 23:48  |  Rodrigo 08/10/07
  74.   to Persian Kitty 23:54  |  Rodrigo 08/10/07
  75.   Iranian Citizen # 28 -The problem is not Zionism 00:16  |  ChanahS 09/10/07
  76.   Viva Israel 00:35  |  Elinor 09/10/07
  77.   "fired at once" #3 by Indrajestion 00:48  |  Joe 09/10/07
  78.   #65 Persian Kitty and the Holocaust 01:18  |  Slibovitz 09/10/07
  79.   Where are all the posts? 02:55  |  Barak Ravid 09/10/07
  80.   Slibovitz 02:56  |  Persian Kitty 09/10/07
  81.   #67. If I were you,... 03:25  |  Iran-born 09/10/07
  82.   To Roxana in Iran, from S.O.S. in Chile. 03:41  |  S.O.S.