Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies - Iran does not equate Zionism with the Jewish religion, Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted in an interview with The Associated Press in New York on Tuesday.

"Zionism is a political party. But the Jewish people, like many other people, follow a divine prophet," he said. "I have to say that in our opinion their issue is different than the issue of Zionism."

The US news network had asked Ahmadinejad, who presides over a nation with the third-largest Jewish population in the Middle East following Israel and Palestine, what his visit to the UN meant for New York City's considerable Jewish population.

"It is true that the United Nations is located in New York, but at the end of the day we are at the United Nations," he added. "Of course I care about the people of New York, and American people in general."

Sidestepping questions about whether he believed the Holocaust actually occurred, Ahmadinejad turned the issue to Palestinians and the suffering brought to them following Israel's establishment after World War II.

"I would like to know how then does that this relate to the Palestinians, and the Palestinian issue," he answered. "If this indeed happened in Europe by the hands of European governments, why exactly should the Palestinian people pay for it?"

"[I]f something has occurred in Europe by the hands of European governments can we seek remedy for it in other lands and territories?" he asked. "Is it the Palestinian people that should be compensating for the act through becoming displaced and why? Or through the occupation of their lands, and why? Or through the mass murder of these people, and why? Through genocide of these people, and why?"

He added, "We are opposed to the killing of people wherever. As a fundamental rule we are opposed to the killings that occurred during World War II, wherever. We know that over 60 million people were killed. Each and every one of them were human beings. And their lives were, are respectful, no matter whether they are Muslims or Jews or Christians. Really, it doesn't make a difference..."

"...From where I stand, I wasn't there 60 years ago, we weren't there, but we are here now and we can do something about it. We are alive now," he said. "And what we see are Palestinians being killed. So I think today it is our task to stop that."

In his speech to the UN General Assembly the same day, Ahmadinejad railed against "the inhuman policies in Palestine," and called for an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. "They [Palestinians] are not even allowed to rebuild their homes which were destroyed during the 22-day barbaric attacks by the Zionist regime while the winter is approaching."

He added, "How can the crimes of the occupiers against defenseless women and children and destruction of their homes, farms, hospitals and schools be supported unconditionally by certain governments, and at the same time, the oppressed men and women be subject to genocide and heaviest economic blockade being denied of their basic needs, food, water and medicine."

Although is received loud applause from the remaining audience, Ahmadinejad's speech led several Western officials to walk out in protest. Diplomats representing Israel, the United States, and Canada left the assembly hall before he began speaking.

The pro-Israel lobby group J Street condemned the remarks. In a statement its director, Jeremy Ben-Ami, urged UN member states "to unite in condemnation of President Ahmadinejad, the fact that he considers his Holocaust denial a 'source of pride,' his vicious anti-Israel rhetoric, and his regime's brutal repression of its own people's human rights."

"In the strongest possible terms, J Street condemns the views and actions of the President of Iran and, in particular, his recent Holocaust denial and threats to Israel. His virulent anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, Holocaust-denying rhetoric should have no place in the community of nations," Ben-Ami added.