Iran’s Rouhani calls Israel a ‘cancerous tumor’ established by West
TEHRAN — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday called Israel a “cancerous tumor” established by Western countries to advance their interests in the Middle East.
Iran’s leaders frequently condemn Israel and predict its demise, but Rouhani, a relative moderate, rarely employs such rhetoric.
Addressing an annual Islamic Unity Conference on Saturday, Rouhani said “one of the negative results of World War II was the formation of a cancerous tumor in the region.”
He went on to refer to Israel as a “fake regime” set up by Western countries.
Iran supports terror groups like Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas that are pledged to Israel’s destruction.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long identified Iran as Israel’s greatest threat, pointing to its nuclear program, calls for Israel’s destruction and support of anti-Israel terrorist groups.
Speaking at the conference by video link from Gaza, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh castigated those nations who, he said, were seeking to broker improved relations for Israel with others in the region — an apparent reference to Gulf states that are warming their ties with the Jewish state. “There is no future for this enemy (Israel) on the land of Palestine,” said Haniyeh. “And there is no future for these efforts at normalization.”
Read More: Times of Israel