An Israeli offer to send aid following a deadly earthquake, which is estimated to have killed more than 500 people, on the Iran-Iraq border has been rejected by Iran, The Times of Israel reported Tuesday.
The offer was made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he spoke by videoconference to Jewish Federations of North America’s annual General Assembly in Los Angeles.
“I just saw the pictures of the destruction in Iran and Iraq from this week’s earthquake. And I saw these heartbreaking images of men and women and children buried under the rubble,” Netanyahu said, “So I am proud to announce tonight that a few hours ago I directed that we offer the Red Cross medical assistance for the Iraqi and Iranian victims of this disaster.”
He emphasized that Israel has “no quarrel” with the people of Iran.
I'm proud that last night Israel offered to send medical aid to Iranians and Iraqis who were injured in this week's devastating earthquake. pic.twitter.com/rskHKc6dmR
— David Keyes (@DavidKeyesPMO) November 15, 2017
An official in the prime minister’s office later said that the offer was immediately rejected. “This shows the true face of the Iranian regime,” the official commented.
Iran also rejected an Israeli offer of aid following a quake in the historic city of Bam in 2003 which killed 26,000 people.
Iranian media do not appear to have reported on Netanyahu’s offer. A report in Mehr News acknowledged condolence messages from several countries, but did not mention Israel’s offer of aid.
[Photo: NBC News / YouTube ]