This event took place as part of an interfaith dialogue organized by the Iranian president during the UN General Assembly. It is worth noting that public meetings between Iranian and Israeli officials are extremely rare.
Sternfeld is an assistant professor of history and Jewish studies at Pennsylvania State University and the author of Between Iran and Zion: A Jewish History of Twentieth-Century Iran. He confirmed that the Iranian organizers of the meeting were aware of his Israeli background but did not cancel the invitation.
According to ITV Channel 12, Sternfeld received an invitation to the event from Iranian researchers with whom he was in contact. Before the meeting, the scientist coordinated his participation with Israeli officials, receiving their approval.
During the meeting, he raised important issues, including the issue of Hamas hostages in Gaza, and gave the Iranian president a copy of his book. Sternfeld noted that “it was interesting and difficult” and quoted Pezeshkian’s words that “war is terrible and must end.”
According to Sternfeld, Iran has expressed its willingness to play a mediating role in the issue of the hostages’ release. Pezeshkian added that when Israel and the Palestinian Arabs reach an agreement acceptable to the majority, Iran “will no longer raise the flag of the Palestinian struggle.”
Earlier, Kursor reported that the Iranian president surprised American journalists with his supposedly pacifist stance and an atypical call for disarmament.
