Israel PM salutes Iran protests, deplores violence

By Allyn Fisher-Ilan and Daniel Flynn

ROME (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday praised Iranians protesting against the election results and said Tehran's "aggressive and violent" behaviour made it the greatest threat to peace.

"I believe that the courage shown by the people of Iran in facing bullets in the streets for the sake of freedom is something that deserves the salute of free men and women everywhere," said Israel's prime minister on a visit to Rome.

Calling Iran the "greatest threat" to peace with its "aggressive and violent behaviour", he said Iran's rulers had shown their true nature with their response to protests at the June 12 vote confirming hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"Iran is not only supporting its terrorist proxies that oppose peace -- Hezbollah and Hamas -- it is also repressing its own people," said Netanyahu.

Making his first trip to Europe since he took office in March at the head of a right-leaning government, Netanyahu had been expected to use his visits to Rome and Paris to advocate stronger global sanctions against the Iranian government.

Netanyahu wants all options left on the table for halting Iran's atomic project. Israel believes Iran is enriching uranium for military purposes while Iran says it is aimed at generating electricity.

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