Iran's Khatami Denies Handshake with Israeli Leader

Reuters | April 9 2005

Iran's President Mohammad Khatamistrongly denied that he shook hands with Israeli PresidentMoshe Katsav at Pope John Paul's funeral, the official IRNAnews agency said on Saturday.

Katsav earlier said he shook hands with Khatami and SyrianPresident Bashar al-Assad at the funeral on Friday, whenhundreds of international dignitaries gathered in the Vaticanto pay homage to the late Pope.

But Khatami told IRNA after his return from Italy: "Istrongly deny shaking hands, meeting and talking to the Israelipresident."

"This claim is like other baseless claims made by theZionist media in the past," he said.

Syria's official news agency on Friday confirmed that Assadshook hands with Katsav but said it was just a formality,adding that the two leaders did not exchange any words. Syriais formally at war with Israel.

The Pope has been praised by many as a force for peace andthe Church invites people at its masses to offer each other asign of peace such as a handshake. Catholics also oftenexchange words like "Peace be with you."

The Israeli and Syrian delegations were seated next to eachother at the funeral.

"I told him 'Good morning' and he shook my hand," Katsav,whose post is largely ceremonial, told Israel's Channel 2television of his encounter with Assad.

Israeli and Syrian negotiators last held peace talks in2000 that foundered over the future of the Golan Heightsoccupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war.

Iranian-born Katsav said he spoke in his native Farsi toKhatami about their common city of birth.

"The president of Iran extended his hand to me, I shook itand told him in Farsi, 'May peace be upon you'," Katsav said.

Israel has accused Iran of supporting anti-Israelimilitants and has been a fierce critic of its nuclear program.

Iran officially refuses to recognize Israel's right toexist and supports the Palestinian cause.

"Recognizing Israel means recognizing occupation and force... it will be a blow to humanity," Khatami told IRNA. "Morallyand logically we do not recognize the Zionist regime."