Jerusalem, Nov 15 (AFP) Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu has offered aid to the victims of the weekend'sdeadly earthquake in Iran insisting enmity between the twogovernments does not prevent humanitarian sympathy.
The offer, made in a video conference with the JewishFederations of North America, was largely rhetorical.
Iran does not recognise the Jewish state and Israelimedia reported that the offer was swiftly turned down throughthe International Committee of the Red Cross.
But it comes as many of the tens of thousands lefthomeless by the quake have vented anger at the Islamic regimefor what they say has been the slow response of the charitablefoundations set up after the revolution of 1979.
"I saw these heartbreaking images of men and women andchildren buried under the rubble," Netanyahu told the meetingin Los Angeles.
"A few hours ago, I directed that we offer the Red Crossmedical assistance for the Iraqi and Iranian victims of thisdisaster.
"I've said many times that we have no quarrel with thepeople of Iran. Our quarrel is only with the tyrannical regimethat holds them hostage and threatens our destruction. But ourhumanity is greater than their hatred."More than 400 people were killed and tens of thousandsleft homeless by the quake that struck on the Iran-Iraq borderlate on Sunday.
Israel regards Iran and its close ally Lebanese Shiitemilitant group Hezbollah as its most dangerous foes.
Iran has been a staunch supporter of Palestinian militantgroups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Tens of thousands of Jews of Iranian ancestry have playeda prominent role in the state of Israel, counting among theirnumber a former president, a former army chief and severalformer government ministers. (AFP)SMJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.