I am deeply saddened by the suffering of the Iraqi people.

I am proud to be the president of the state of Israel.

Our family has lived in Iran for 2,500 years, and Iranian Jewry has the long history in that land.

There is a huge gap between us (Jews) and our enemies, not just in ability but in morality, culture, sanctity of life, and conscience. They are our neighbours here, but it seems as if at a distance of a few hundred meters away, there are people who do not belong to our continent, to our world, but actually belong to a different galaxy.

Persian social manners are well known, and there is no other society that can compete with them.

Iran stands behind a substantial number of terrorist actions against us, together with Hizballah and the Islamic Jihad. It pretends to care for the Palestinians.

I am deeply saddened by the suffering of the Iraqi people.