United Nations General Assembly hall in New York City. Photo: Patrick Gruban.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Israeli delegation at the United Nations General Assembly currently taking place in New York City to act as they did last year and not be present during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s remarks Tuesday.

Netanyahu said that despite the charm offensive enacted by the new Iranian president, the policies of the regime toward Israel have not changed.

Just last week, Rouhani, like former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad before him, refused to recognize the Holocaust as an historical fact, the prime minister added.

A statement released by Netanyahu’s office added, “When Iran’s leaders stop denying the Holocaust of the Jewish people, and stop calling for the destruction of the Jewish state and recognize Israel’s right to exist, the Israeli delegation will attend their addresses at the General Assembly.”