© ReutersNetanyahu • Rouhani
Benjamin Netanyahu was responding to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who had earlier suggested that Israel was involved in the recent unrest. In the 90-second-long video Netanyahu praised the protesters who have rallied since Thursday, saying that they "seek freedom and justice."
He then dismissed the accusation that Israel was involved into stirring Iranian protests, calling this "false" and "laughable."
On Monday, Rouhani was quoted by state media as apparently blaming the US and Israel for provoking demonstrations in the country. "Our success in the political arena against the United States and the Zionist regime was unbearable to [Iran's enemies]. Iran's success in the region was unbearable to them. Don't you expect that they would seek revenge? Don't you think they would provoke some people?" Rouhani was quoted as saying.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also accused Iran's foes of instigating the protests. "In recent days, enemies of Iran used different tools including cash, weapons, politics and intelligence apparatus to create troubles for the Islamic Republic," Khamenei said in a statement.
Unrest continues in Iran for a sixth consecutive day, sweeping across several cities, including the capital Tehran. Protests broke out last Thursday, with people said to be demonstrating against rising food prices, unemployment, and the overall economic situation. Twenty people have been killed so far in the six days of unrest, according to state TV.
If Netanyahu were not to know what government would be replacing the current Iranian administration he might be scared that it would be some hardliners who would start a war with Israel. Since he welcomes it so warmly though,the Israelis obviously already have a transitional government picked out and trained 3 years ahead of time. Just like how the U.S. did Iraq. (Reader's Digest ran a brief one paragraph summary of The U.S. training an interim Iraqi govt. 3 years before Saddam was removed. Almost a footnote.) Anyone who did not have foreknowledge of how this will pan out would be quite uneasy with these developments on their borders.