Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 9, 2017
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Putin shoots down Netanyahu effort to tie Iran to Purim persecution
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu evoked age-old tensions with Iran during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Persia had made “an attempt to destroy the Jewish people that did not succeed” some 2,500 years ago — an event commemorated through the Jewish holiday of Purim, which Israel will celebrate Sunday and Monday.
“Today there is an attempt by Persia’s heir, Iran, to destroy the state of the Jews,” Netanyahu said. “They say this as clearly as possible and inscribe it on their ballistic missiles.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) during their meeting in Moscow on March 9, 2017. (AFP Photo/Pool/Pavel Golovkin)
Adopting a more conciliatory tone, Putin said that the events described by Netanyahu had taken place “in the fifth century BC.
“We now live in a different world. Let us talk about that now,” Putin said.
— AFP
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