Italians showed their support for Israel and condemned the Iranian president’s call for the destruction of the Jewish state:

A pro-Israel demonstration was held in Rome Thursday following recent statements made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying Israel “should be wiped off the map.”

Approximately 15,000 people participated in the rally, which was accompanied with chants of “viva Israel! viva freedom!” the website of the Italian newspaper La Republica reported. The rally was concluded with the singing of the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikvah.”

Protesters included right and left-wing politicians, local celebrities and Walter Veltroni, the mayor of Rome.