Iran invites Israeli tourists

Headline News

Wednesday, June 06, 2007 by Staff Writer

Just days after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that the “countdown to the destruction of Israel has begun,” Iranian government officials cordially invited Israelis to visit their country.

During a recent international tourism conference in Berlin, a representative of the Israeli culture and tourism television program “The Good Life” said he was shocked when high-level officials from the Iranian Ministry of Tourism singled him out and treated him to a very warm reception.

Sharon Lamberger told Israel's Ma'ariv daily newspaper that as the encounter drew to a close, the Iranians said they would very much like for Israeli tourists to come to Iran.

Israel and Iran had friendly relations prior to the Islamic Revolution and the overthrow of the shah by the ayatollahs. Many in Iran still remember those days, and are ready to reconnect with the Jewish state.

Lamberger said he hopes to use the information and material provided by his new Iranian friends to prepare Israelis for the day they are able to visit and explore the Persian homeland.

FREE daily email updates. Sign up »

Be an Ambassador

Israel

for

Learn how »

Israel Today

Print Edition
or
Electronic Edition

Get more coverage »

Post your comment »

Name:
Subject:	*
Comment:
Send comment

[56] COMMENTS:

1 .

Jewish significant in Iran

There are more Jewish historical sites of importance in Iran than there are in Israel. This demonstrates the deep rooted history between Jews and Iran. Furthermore, crimes against foreigners in Iran are significantly lower than in its Arab neighbours. Iran has the 2nd largest Jewish community in the Middle East after Israel and the 5th largest community overall. Iranians love all foreigners and pride themselves on their warm hospitality friendliness. And for all those who wish ill and want to quote "bomb those bastards" i ask you this: have you actually met a real Iranian? Im not talking about the flag burning crazies, but the REAL people who have the very same hopes and dreams as everyone else. Let go of the prejudice and hate and broaden your horizens.

IranianfromAustralia

1/9/2008 7:10 PM

2 .

Good Relations between iran&Israel

Israel also was involved in the arming of Iran prior to the Iran-Iraq war:

Project "Flower" Tzur, a joint collaboration between Iran and Israel, aimed to develop a "state-of-the-art sea-to-sea missile, an advanced version of the U.S. Harpoon missile, with a range of 200 kilometers." (See: Ronen Bergman, "5 billion Reasons to Talk to Iran," Haaretz (Tel Aviv), 19 March 1999 in "Israel''s Outstanding Debt to Iran Viewed," FBIS Document FTS19990319001273, 19 March 1999.
Israeli Defense Minister General Ezer Weizmann and Iranian Vice Minister of War General Hasan Toufanian discussed the co-production of Israel''s Jericho-2 missile, code named Project Flower. (See: "Minutes from Meeting Held in Tel Aviv between H. E. General M. Dayan, Foreign Minister of Israel, and H.E. General H. Toufanian, Vice Minister of War, Imperial Government of Iran," Top Secret Minutes from Israel''s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 18 July 1977, in Digital National Security Archive)
Israeli arms deals to Iran continued after

Mehrzad - yazd

9/29/2007 12:25 PM

3 .

Jews were/are our friends.

According to the report of the U.S. Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair issued in November of 1987, "the sale of U.S. arms to Iran through Israel began in the summer of 1985, after receiving the approval of President Reagan." These sales included "2,008 TOW missiles and 235 parts kits for Hawk missiles had been sent to Iran via Israel." Further shipments of up to US$2 billion of American weapons from Israel to Iran consisting of 18 F-4 fighter-bombers, 46 Skyhawk fighter-bombers, and nearly 4,000 missiles were foiled by the U.S. Department of Justice, and "unverified reports alleged that Israel agreed to sell Iran Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, radar equipment, mortar and machine gun ammunition, field telephones, M-60 tank engines and artillery shells, and spare parts for C-130 transport planes." The Observer also estimated that Israel''s arms sales to Iran during the war totaled US$ 500 million annually and Time Magazine reported that throughout 1981 and 1982, "the Israelis repor

Mehrzad - yazd

9/29/2007 12:19 PM

4 .

Farbod, thank You for your post. It brings Hope...

Farbod, thank you for your post. It brings Hope...

Passer-by

9/2/2007 10:22 AM

5 .

Nita we dont need u here either

We dont need citizens from a country that has illegally occupied and built settlements on stolen land for decades.

Atleast my president only barks and doesnt bite, which is not what i can say about ur nazi olmert .

PERSIANPRIDE4LIFE

6/11/2007 3:11 PM

6 .

Visit....lran

..when a friendly enemy invited you..he does not mean evil rather he needs your friendship more than you need his...Israelis are free to visit lran...the persians and jews have good historical relationships...pls don''t allow the mad man...destroy the relationship....

David, Nigeria

6/9/2007 10:13 AM

7 .

NO WAY

President I''mANutJob could offer me a million dollars and I would not set a foot in Iran.

Nita

6/9/2007 5:29 AM

8 .

Thanks Xerxes

Thanks for your reply...I am sure you would have a nice time in Israel. I have never been there myself but I know it is beautiful.
"Next year in Jerusalem"
Be blessed. May the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob greatly bless you as you go to visit Israel.

Marie

6/9/2007 2:54 AM

9 .

Fred is absolutely right!

There is a deep and wide split between different factions in Iranian government. Believe it or not, you would feel much freer in a more chaotic system than a Western style tightly organized society. The politicians in Western countries are way more limited in their thought process and their actions, than in a semi democratic country with a more chaotic system like Iran. So there could be a big rift between different political parties with elements in Iranian government than say US or UK government.

Fariba

6/9/2007 1:23 AM

10 .

Split

all this shows is that the iranian government is split like most governments between hardliners who want war and conflict and moderates who want peace and economic development.

Fred

6/8/2007 9:49 PM

11 .

I appriciate your honesty Marie

I personally appriciate your honesty. Iran is nothing like Saudi Arabia, and Iranians as such are not at odds with Israelis or Jews. I''m actually visiting Israel this summer.

Xerxes

6/8/2007 8:35 PM

12 .

Iran

Sorry if I offended any Iranians about my comment below. I shouldn''t have said that...I know you love your country. I just assumed that Iran is like Saudi Arabia. I was in Saudi Arabia and that was what I saw....women in black flowing gowns and men in white gowns and head turbans. I am sure the Iranians are nice people. I am sure most don''t agree with what their President is saying about Israel.

Marie

6/8/2007 7:48 PM

13 .

Dear Farbod

I never meant to imply that Persians are Semites, though I could see how that inference maybe drawn from my comment.

I was only trying to address the heart of the Arab Israeli conflict.

Here is some links I have come across I thought you might enjoy them too.

http://www.mehrnews.com/fa/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=412446

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Jews

http://www.sasanika.com/

https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html

simple observer

6/8/2007 5:18 PM

14 .

Should have not freed u 2500 years ago!

Too bad Cyrus the great freed all those Jews 2500years ago. If he hadnt, we would not be facing a nuclear armed Zionist country in the middle-east.

PERSIANPRIDE4LIFE

6/8/2007 11:53 AM

15 .

Note to Simple Obervations below:

Your are correct about Arabs and jews being semites. For the sake of clarity, and not superiority, you should know that Iranians are not semites, but persians, speaking an indo-germanic language, Farsi, not arabic. Do some research on Iranian/persian race on google.

Farbod

6/8/2007 9:38 AM

16 .

I miss my israeli neighbour in Tehran

Back in 1976, when I was 11 years old, we had an israeli doctor, and her red-haired daughter, Hannah living below us. Hannah was much older, but took care of me like her little brother. I don''t want not allow politics and religious fanaticism to blind us to natural urge to bond with others, whoever they are. I would love to see Hannah again, and will show her around her old town.

Farbod

6/8/2007 9:27 AM

17 .

One Night with the King

Watch "One Night with the King" It is about Xerxes and Ester.

Iranian-American

6/8/2007 4:54 AM

18 .

Good relationship

I say build relationships based on the goods that have taken place and wipe off the slate. Persian and Jews are in the same boat.
I personally would love to visit Israel. I am afraid that people there may dislike me. But, I think we should take the first step in building a lasting relationship.

Iranian-American

6/8/2007 4:52 AM

19 .

Marie, Read leonly planet

Marie, You need to read a little bit some times. I suggest "leonly planet". You might be surprised.

Xerxes

6/7/2007 10:44 PM

20 .

If you hate, stay where you are.

To all those Israelis who can''t comprehend or imagine peace and friendship, you have so much hate in your hearts, you think everyone else is like you because you don''t know better. Israelis who have so much hate for others (Marie and other clueless commentators) should build a few more walls around themselves and STAY IN THERE. The rest of Israelis are very welcome to visit Iran.

Fariba

6/7/2007 10:35 PM

21 .

see these!

http://www.mehrnews.com/fa/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=412446

Go to the bottom of the linked page for more links to pictures.

Sorry that the links are in Farsi.

maybe one day instead of letting hate blind us, we can blind hate.

6/7/2007 10:35 PM

22 .

What is there to see?

What is there to see but bunch of people in black and white overflowing gowns..men and women alike? Probably all you hear is traffice jams, and loudspeakers blanketing the cities praising allah..."allah, allah allah" an so forth.
Tell me what is there to see. Israelis, your country is the most beutiful, modern and ultra-clean in the Middle East. Stay where you are and enjoy your country where is safe and peaceful. They might not let you leave that country when you are ready to leave. Just a thought.

Marie

6/7/2007 8:50 PM

23 .

simple observations

1- Jews & Arabs are both semites.

2-Anti-Semitism is wrong in either form of it (hating the Jews or Arabs).

3-Nazis & Zionists (as ideologies not epithets) share the idea "Jews to Palestine".

4- Hitler was defeated, but were his ideas defeated ?

5- What kind of a world do we want to live in, Racially & Ethniclly pure? or diverse?

6-What does Biology say about racial purity or small populations and breeding patterns in limited gene pools?

simple observer

6/7/2007 8:03 PM

24 .

simple observations

simple observer

6/7/2007 8:02 PM

25 .

simple observations

simple observer

6/7/2007 8:00 PM

26 .

To Anonymous: freindship between...

You obvoiusly know nothing about history, since you write:
...thousands of years of animosity and distrust...
Persians and Jew have not had any animosity or distrust before the creation af islamic regime in Iran in the past 28 years. (read the previus comment to Judah). Even today most Iranians are friendly toward Jews as a whole.

Xerxes

6/7/2007 7:19 PM

27 .

Friendship between Iran and Israel

It''s difficult to assess present-day Iran''s true intentions amidst all the bluster and posturing. Perhaps it''s wishful thinking to even consider that they could be sincere in their offer. Clearly the rhetoric needs to be toned down before friendship gestures can be taken seriously.

That said, if a genuine friendship between Iran and Israel could ever come to pass, both countries would benefit enormously. Difficult as it would be to overcome thousands of years of animosity and distrust, the whole region would benefit tremendously if they could get serious in their efforts to settle these ancient disputes and learn to live together in genuine peace not merely cold mutual tolerance, or worse, the present status quo.

I would hope that this is cause for (certainly very cautious) optimism.

Anonymous

6/7/2007 6:32 PM

28 .

jews were responsible for hitler

jews d hitler in order to justify the creation of Israel. It is a known fact outside the zionist controlled media. and for you jews out there, YHWH is really Ya Hava which is Arabic for God, the word allah has only been used for the last 1300 years.

bob

6/7/2007 6:22 PM

29 .

ignorance

Most people of ignorant and history. For all you bible lovers, search the bible and you will see that Persia freed the jews from slavery in Babylon and for you Jews, check the Talmud for the praises given to Persia for freeing them from slavery. During the Arab oil boycott of the west, only Iran was willing to sell oil to Israel, thereby keeping the Israeli economy working. Iran has done alot for Israel.
What has Israel ever done for Iran?, other than threatening it with nuclear weapons.

bob

6/7/2007 6:20 PM

30 .

duh, I suppose Hitler was manufactured

According to a couple of posters here it looks like the Jews were responsible for their own deaths ! Just like they "need a Hitler" so they FORCE Ahmadinejad to breath out threats against Israel. duh, also I would suggest that the conflict is not religious as indicated but rather a contest of who is the True G_d YHWH, or allah. Just look at the training that "Palestinian" childern receive in kindergarten posted on this site earlier this week.

6/7/2007 5:29 PM

31 .

Jews are Arabs -

Zionist media always like to portrait Arabs as low lives and portrait the conflict as between "Jews and Arabs". In reality, that is another big lie! Jewish is a religion not a race. The true race of the original Jews is also Arab. Moslems and Jews are descendants of the same blood line. European hopped on the British boats just recently. To solve a problem, you must see it clearly first. This a LAND conflict not a race (Arab) against a religion (Judaism). Now that two people want the same land so badly, then it must be shared between the two and both must compromise. Deceitful propaganda and cheating won''t help solving the problem... I wish people would get over their religions.. I personally hate most religions, especially the Big 3 ..peace!

James Bakhtiar

6/7/2007 4:33 PM

32 .

Excuse Me!!!!

There is no way anyone can compare the palestinians (who are not palestinians. They are Arabs.) to Jews under the 3rd Reich. Hitler got his training from Husseini who was an Arab. Arabs have always wanted to destroy the Jews. Palestinians who live under Israeli care are better off then those who don''t. Israel isn''t commiting genocide by trying to kill all arabs unlike those like Hitler and others who have tried to destroy the Jewish race completely. Israelis have often helped palestinians with health care and other things that they can''t get in their own land because the arabs are more concerned about blowing people up then helping anyone. The more people scoff at and mock the holocaust the more likely for it to happen again. Beware or you will reap much judgment upon yourself.

Lisa

6/7/2007 4:02 PM

33 .

6/7/2007 9:04 AM

34 .

6/7/2007 9:03 AM

35 .

6/7/2007 9:03 AM

36 .

Read some Books

Hey Judah you should read History books before writing nonsense. Where did you get the idea that "Israel and Persia, have always been at odds"... If you go back in time you will learn that the Persians actually freed the Jews from Babylone and helped them rebuild their temples, the Persian King is even mentioned 23 times in the Torah as the god sent savior of the jews...

Truth

6/7/2007 6:47 AM

37 .

Well Now…

I am in agreement with San Antonio Spurs, Sina from Iran, and James Bakhtiar. I suspect that deliberate mistranslation has played a large role in the portrait of Ahmadinejad. Zionists do have control of the media. About seven to ten major corporations and their duplicates pretending to be ''little business'' and ''independent'' pretty much control all of our media, from news to movies to books to music. The trusts need to be smashed immediately. And Zionist liberties taken with truth need to be curtailed. I believe in calling a spade a spade, and in saying when an emperor''s new clothes are nonexistent. Zionism is a spade.

Christian Socialist

6/7/2007 2:39 AM

38 .

Zionist always need a Hitler

Zionists always need a Hitler to justify their purpose.. Ahmadinejad''s image in media today is a perfect example of Zionist lies and their influence to twist the truth to acheive their goal. They have been shaping Ahmadinejad''s image as Hitler who wants to "wipe Israel off the map". The TRUTH is quite different. As a Farsi speaking person, I have read his speech in Farsi and he never said: "wipe Israel off the map". He said (actually quoted Khomeini), "ZIONIST REGIME''s page will be torn from pages of history". Few days ago he said the countdown to destruction of "ZIONIST REGIME" has started not "Israel" as a whole. Iran is not against Jews or Israelis as people. As an Iranian I can tell you, Iran''s government and people are against Israeli government''s crimes and treatment of innocent Palestinians which are very similar to what Hitler did to Jews. So don''t be fooled by a media which tows the Zionist lies.

James Bakhtiar

6/7/2007 2:21 AM

39 .

Iran

Bomb the bastards.

Harold

6/7/2007 12:48 AM

40 .

The land belongs to the Jews?

You speaks like Hitler !

Sina from iran

6/6/2007 8:43 PM

41 .

who is cat who mouse ?

you got to stop comparing anybody who criticizes the israeli government and their policies to Hitler and Ausschwitz .
i wouldn''t believe a word coming from the iranian government or israeli government or any other government .
the fact that the iranian government is evil and vicious doesn''t make any other good.
the iranian people are suffering under their regime more than anybody today .
israel is definitely not the mouse or the chicken , the jews were like palestinians during the third reich ,
today we do have to distinguish between jews and israeli government.

mac

6/6/2007 8:38 PM

42 .

Cat and mouse

And I''m sure the cat would say to the mouse....."Come over for dinner......"
Or if Hitler gave you a free ticket to a free vacation at Auschwitz.........Beware of those who extend a hand in welcome and are holding a loaded gun behind their back. Remember, flattery and charm are deceptive.

Lisa

6/6/2007 8:17 PM

43 .

You believe them??

Be careful!!!Just because we have people who think that everyone are brothers does not guarantee safety. Remember Cain and Abel. Know your Bible prophecies and you will know who your brothers are.
Don''t even separate Israel from Jews and vice-versa. You hate one, you hate both. The land belongs to the Jews..period.

w.o.r.d.

6/6/2007 7:44 PM

44 .

All people are equal.

All people are equal. Israeli, Persians and Palestinians are brothers .Please don’t treat with Palestinians like animals.

Sina from iran

6/6/2007 7:27 PM

45 .

All people are equal.

All people are equal. Israeli, Persians and Palestinians are brothers .Please don’t treat with Palestinians like animals.

Sina from iran

6/6/2007 7:23 PM

46 .

All people are equal. Israeli, Persians and Palestinians are brothers .Please don’t treat with Palestinians like animals.

Sina from iran

6/6/2007 7:22 PM

47 .

Deception

Yea right, they are probably trying to save money on the delared war. They figure the more of you they can get to come to Iran the fewer they''ll be to destroy when they come to you.

Deborah

6/6/2007 6:46 PM

48 .

Iran is doing it for a good cause.

It is known that everyone hates Isreal, but that does not mean that everyone hates Jews. Maybe many of you are fed false information.

Iran has nothing against the people of Isreal. Its the state of Isreal that everyone does not like. Some other countries, of course, are taught to hate Jews, but you really cant blame others for hating Isreal.

San Antonio Spurs

6/6/2007 6:31 PM

49 .

Hate....

Iran is not the only country who hates Israel. Keep that in mind! When my wife and I first immigrated to Israel, we were told by Dutch people that while they were studying in grade school, they were taught to hate America and Jews. We have experienced hate from people who live in Israel from Norway, South Africa, America, New Zealand....Need I continue?

Ron Ben Ya''akov

6/6/2007 6:03 PM

50 .

Sly fox...

Iran is trying to buy time by pretending to becoming friendly. Leopards does not change spots overnight (if ever). Iran knew that Israel might strike their country before they have nuclear bombs ready. Watch out, sly fox might be at work...

Ernie P.

6/6/2007 5:50 PM

51 .

It''s Still An Islamic Terrorist State

No matter what anybody in this forum may say in "defense" of Iran, it''s still indefensible.

Kinda like the fox inviting the hens from the chicken coop over for dinner...

Art

6/6/2007 5:09 PM

52 .

What is his real motive?

What is the motive for inviting Israel tourest to Iran? It is well known that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hates Israel. Is it a way to lure innocent people in to be kidnaped and / or murdered? Beware such an invite.

Frank

6/6/2007 4:56 PM

53 .

Don''t Believe Them!!

Don''t believe them at all!
Israel and Persia, have always been at odd''s!
Haman cam from Persia or modern day Iran!! Come on!!
All Jews know as long as ONE! One! Amalekite is alive on earth, since the time of King Saul,, WE ARE IN DANGER!! PEOPLE!! WAKE UP!!
Israel needs to finish the job she started under Saul and David!!
And thats cleanse the place for Yahweh!
Thats my comments, do it unto them before they do it unto you!!

Judah

6/6/2007 4:13 PM

54 .

Don''t Believe Them!!

Judah

6/6/2007 4:09 PM

55 .

Sure

I believe Iran''s threat to Israel has been widely exaggerated in Israel for political agendas. Why shouldn''t Israelis travel to Iran or vice versa ? Iran and Israel are the only non-Arabs in the Middle East. Hostile on polotical scene but should back each other undergraound. In a recent interview with CNN, even a recent comander in Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps stated we prefer to contain Arabs rather then Israel.
Iranains and Israelis together aganist the domination of Arabs in ME

SaGo

6/6/2007 3:16 PM

56 .

Sure

SaGo

6/6/2007 3:15 PM