http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=282661

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Pray for the destruction of Iran

By JEREMY SHARON08/26/2012 19:13

Shas spiritual leader calls on followers to ask God to wipe out “evil ones who threaten Israel,” in their Rosh Hashana prayers.

Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef implored God to ‘wipe out and destroy’ Iran and Hezbollah during his weekly sermon on Saturday night.

This is the second time in a row in which Yosef has spoken about the threat of Iran’s nuclear program during his post-Shabbat Torah lesson.

It follows a briefing he was given by National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror on the Iranian issue 10 days ago, which was seen as part of an effort from the Prime Minister’s Office to obtain the rabbi’s support for the government’s position on the matter.

Speaking on Saturday night, Yosef talked about the tradition on the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, of eating various fruits and vegetables as positive portents for the year ahead.

‘When we make the blessing on the dates that ‘our enemies and haters should be ended’ we should have in mind the Iranian regime, those evil people who threaten Israel,’ the rabbi said.

‘Do good, God, wipe them out, kill them,’ he entreated, to which the assembled crowd answered ‘amen.

‘When eating the leek,’ also traditionally eaten as part of the symbolic service for a good coming year, ‘and when we say that our enemies, foes and anyone who desires to do evil to us should be cut off, we should have in mind Hezbollah and Iran,’ Yosef said.

‘Destroy them God, obliterate them from the face of the earth,’ he said, adding a verse from the Book of Psalms: ‘Some call on chariots and horses, but we will invoke the name of God our Lord, they collapse and fall down but are risen and gather strength.’

So can Iran now accuse Israel (who has nuclear weapon unlike Iran) of calling for genocide of Iranians? Does that make them even?