Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Israel Thursday to focus on today's "different world" after Premier Benjamin Netanyahu evoked age-old tensions with Iran, ahead of a holiday marking an ancient victory. In a meeting with Putin in Moscow, Netanyahu said Persia had made "an attempt to destroy the Jewish people that did not succeed" some 2,500 years ago, an event commemorated through the Jewish holiday of Purim, which Israel will celebrate Sunday and Monday.
"Today there is an attempt by Persia's heir, Iran, to destroy the state of the Jews," Netanyahu said. "They say this as clearly as possible and inscribe it on their ballistic missiles." Adopting a more conciliatory tone, Putin said that the events described by Netanyahu had taken place "in the fifth century B.C."
"We now live in a different world. Let us talk about that now," Putin said. Putin's comment came after Netanyahu stressed that while Israel was capable of defending itself, the country - and the whole world - remained threatened by radical Shiite Islam. "The threat of radical Shiite Islam threatens us no less than it does the region and the peace of the world, and I know that we are partners in the desire to prevent any kind of victory by radical Islam of any sort," Netanyahu said.
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