"The Fourth International Conference for Support of Palestine, The Model of Resistance, And Gaza, The Victim of War Crimes" was held March 3-4, 2009 in Tehran, with the attendance of 80 delegations from different countries.[1] Following are excerpts from statements against Israel, against the moderate Arab countries,[2] and in support of Hamas, by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Khamenei: "Is It Not a Fact That the Countries of the Balkans, Caucasus, and Southwest Asia Reclaimed Their Identity After 80 Years of Loss, And After Being Parts of the Former Soviet Union? Why Cannot Palestine, Which Is Part of the Body of the Islamic World, Reclaim Its Islamic and Arab Identity?"
In his speech at the conference, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that the "usurper regime" Israel had "twice been forced to suffer defeat by the forces of resistance [i.e. in 2006 by Hizbullah in Lebanon and recently by Hamas in Gaza] and fighting with trust in God and the people, rather than reliance on arms and equipment...
"By now those who advocated a 'pragmatic' approach under the illusion of the invincibility of the Zionist regime, and who succumbed to surrender and compromise with the usurpers, should have realized their mistake...
"Now 60 years have passed since the occupation of Palestine. During this period all material means of power have been in the service of the usurpers, including money, weapons and technology, as well as political and diplomatic initiatives and the giant empire of news media and networks. Yet despite these staggering and far-reaching satanic efforts, the usurpers and their supporters have not only failed to solve the problem of the Zionist regime's illegitimacy, but it has grown more complicated with time.
"The intolerance shown by the Western and Zionist media and pro-Zionist governments toward even the mere posing of any question concerning the Holocaust — which served as an excuse for the usurpation of Palestine — and research on the topic, is one of the signs of this nervousness and uncertainty.
"The image of the Zionist regime in world opinion today is much worse than it has ever been during its black history, and more serious questions are being raised concerning the rationale of its creation...
"This is a big lesson, for both the Muslim Ummah and its enemies. It is a lesson for the enemies, who tried to create a fake and counterfeit nation and state by resorting to force and repression, and to convert it in course of time into an undeniable reality, and to make such an unjust imposition something normal for the Islamic world.
"It is also a lesson for the Muslim community, especially the proud youth and their alert conscience, so that they may know that any struggle waged for the restoration of usurped rights is never in vain, and that God's promise is indeed true when He, the Most High, declares (in the Qur'an): 'Those who are fought against are permitted [to fight] because they have been wronged, and Allah is indeed able to help them'; 'Those who were expelled from their homes unjustly, only because they said, 'Allah is our Lord.' Had not Allah repulsed the people from one another, ruin would have befallen the monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques in which Allah's Name is mentioned greatly. 'Allah will surely help those who help Him. Indeed Allah is all-strong, all-mighty.'(22:39-40)
"And when He, the Most High, says: 'Indeed Allah does not break His promise.' (3:9) 'Allah shall never break His promise.' (22:47) '[This is] a promise of Allah: Allah does not break His promise, but most people do not know.' (30:6) 'So do not suppose that Allah will break His promise to His apostles. Indeed Allah is all-mighty, avenger.' (14:47)
"And what promise can be more categorical than this promise of God, 'Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do righteous deeds that He will surely make them successors in the earth, just as He made those who were before them successors, and He will surely establish for them their religion which He has approved for them, and that He will surely change their state to security after their fear, while they worship Me, not ascribing any partners to Me. And whoever is ungrateful after that-it is they who are the transgressors.' (24:55)
"A big fallacy which has taken control of the minds of some persons concerning the problem of Palestine is that a country named Israel is a 60-year old reality with which one has to reconcile. I do not know why these people do not learn from other realities that are in front of their eyes. Is it not a fact that the countries of the Balkans, Caucasus, and Southwest Asia reclaimed their identity after 80 years of loss, and after being parts of the former Soviet Union? Why cannot Palestine, which is part of the body of the Islamic world, reclaim its Islamic and Arab identity? Why cannot the Palestinian youths, who are among the most astute and resistant of Arab youth, overcome this unjust reality by their will and resolution?
"Another big fallacy is to say that negotiation is the only means of deliverance for the Palestinian nation. With whom are these negotiations to be held? With a usurper, misguided and bullying regime which does not believe in anything except force? What have those who have been captivated with this game and delusion achieved?...
"...The United States and Britain are guilty of the biggest sin in creating and sustaining this cancerous tumor, and are one of the parties to the dispute, and not arbiters. The United States government has never ceased its unconditional support for the Zionist regime and its flagrant crimes, such as those committed during the recent events in Gaza.
"Even the new American president, who came to office with the slogan of bringing change in the policies of the Bush Administration, avows unconditional commitment to Israel's security, which means defending state terrorism, defending injustice and oppression, and defending a 22-day-long massacre of hundreds of Palestinian men, women, and children. It is a policy which amounts to the same crooked ways of the Bush administration and nothing else."
"Negotiations with bodies associated with the United Nations are another exercise in futility... Even when the General Assembly voted branding Zionism as a racist ideology, the Security Council not only did not go along but also maintained practically a diametrically opposite stand...
"The deliverance of Palestine cannot be obtained through begging from the United Nations or the dominating powers, and more so from the usurper regime. The sole path of its deliverance is through resistance and fortitude, through the unity of purpose of the Palestinians and the word of God's oneness (Tawhid), which is the inexhaustible resource for human struggle.
"The pillars of this resistance, on one side, are the combatant Palestinian groups and each and every one of the faithful and resistant Palestinians, those who are within that country as well as those who are abroad.
"From another side, the pillars are the world's Muslim nations and governments, religious scholars, intellectuals, political figures and academicians. If these two pillars remain firmly in their place, there is no doubt that in every part of the world, awakened consciences, hearts and minds which have not been spoiled by the spells of the news media empire belonging to the global arrogance and Zionism, will rally to the assistance of the victims and those who have been denied their rights, forcing imperialism to confront a storm of thoughts, emotions and actions."
"The Resistance and Fortitude of the Palestinian Combatants and People... Will Break the Satanic Spell of the Usurpation of Palestine"
"We have seen an example of this truth in recent days during the magnificent resistance of Gaza. The sobs in front of the news cameras of a Western chief of one of the international aid organizations, expressions of sympathy by activists belonging to humanitarian organizations, the large and impassioned public demonstrations in the heart of European capitals and American cities, the bold moves made by the heads of several states in Latin America — all these are signs that the non-Muslim world has not yet been fully subjugated by forces of evil and corruption — called 'Satan' in the nomenclature of the Quran — and that the ground is still open for truth to manifest itself.
"Yes, the resistance and fortitude of the Palestinian combatants and people, together with all-round support and assistance from all Islamic countries, will break the satanic spell of the usurpation of Palestine. The prodigious energies of the Islamic Ummah can solve the problems of the Islamic world, including the urgent and acute issue of Palestine...
"This is the first step to be taken. The political and military leaders of the usurper regime should be brought to trial. If criminals are punished, the room for criminal acts by those who possess the motives and madness to commit them will be restricted. Impunity for perpetrators of great crimes is itself a cause and incentive for further crimes.
"If after the 33-day Lebanon war, the Muslim world community had earnestly demanded the punishment of Zionists leaders responsible for the terrible atrocities committed during this war, had this legitimate demand been made following the massacres of wedding processions in Afghanistan, after the atrocities committed by Blackwater mercenaries in Iraq, and following the Abu Ghuraib scandal and other cases involving U. S. soldiers, we would not have witnessed another Karbalain Gaza..."
Criticism of Saudi Arabia and Egypt for Collaborating with Israel
"Dear brothers and sisters throughout the Islamic world! Let us learn from experience. Our great community, with the boon of the Islamic awakening, possesses tremendous power. The key to the solution of many of the problems of the Muslim countries lies in the resoluteness and solidarity of this wonderful galaxy. The question of Palestine is the most urgent problem of the Islamic world.
"At times some people are heard to say that Palestine is an Arab problem. What does that mean?... [1]f it means that the heads of some Arab countries should refuse to pay any heed to the cries of help of the Palestinian people which are addressed to all Muslims, if it means that they may collaborate with the ruthless usurper enemy in such an important case as the tragedy of Gaza while loudly condemning others who cannot remain indifferent to their call of duty to help Gaza — then no proud and conscientious Muslim or Arab will accept it, nor spare the speaker of disapproval and reproach..."[3]
"Offering a multi-faceted assistance to the people of Palestine and complete support is a joint duty of all Muslims. The governments which criticize the Islamic Republic of Iran and some other Muslim countries for assisting Palestine should come forward to bear the burden of such support so that others are relieved of this Islamic duty. But if they lack the ability and courage to do so, instead of criticism and causing hindrance, they should appreciate the dutiful and courageous steps taken by others."
Ahmadinejad: "The Difference Between This Conference and the [Egyptian-Led] One at Sharm Al-Sheikh [on the Rehabilitation of Gaza] is Like the Difference Between Satan and Man"
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at the conference that the difference between this conference and the one at Sharm Al-Sheikh was like the difference between Satan and man.[4]
In his speech, he said: "In the period of weakness of the peoples, the front of the professional murderers and plunderers [global Zionism in collaboration with the West] ruled the world for some 200 years, and even the massacre of some 100 million people in two world wars did not soothe their loathsome spirit.
"With advance planning, and step by step, they carried out the greatest fraud of all [i.e. the Holocaust] and the ugliest crimes in history [the establishment of the State of Israel and its actions]. The story of the Holocaust, of the 'nation without a homeland and homeland without a nation,' the false religion of Zionism, and the Zionists' making themselves the objects of pity are the greatest lies of our era, and they constitute a prelude to crimes and occupation..."
The Zionist Regime Was Not Aimed At "Easing [The Jews'] Suffering From World Wars I and II"; Preserving the Security of the Zionist Regime is a Pretext "To Prevent The Advancement of the Nations [and] To Prepare the Ground for a Takeover of the Region... By [the] Superpowers"
"It is clear today that the forcing of the Zionist regime [on the region] was not aimed at defending the Jewish people and easing their suffering from World Wars I and II, but was the result of understandings and planning by several superpowers who arose as a result of World War II. The Zionist mission is to constantly threaten [the world], to prevent the advancement of the nations, to prepare the ground for a takeover of the region and of the world by those superpowers, to sow division [amongst the Muslim nations], to prepare [the ground] for the Western weapons sales market, to plunder the resources of the oppressed peoples, and even to take over the peoples of Europe and America.
"In effect, the Zionist regime serves as a poisoned sword of the global Zionist network and of the arrogant powers in our region and worldwide. [According to the West,] on the pretext of preserving the security of this regime, the progress of the nations must be stopped, the large and independent [Middle East] countries must be torn to shreds, and heads of state committed to their national interests such as the honorable president of Sudan, must be pressured, so that no nation will, Heaven forbid, have the strength and the ability to withstand them...
"Now, by the grace of God, the oppressing [international] relations that were created following World War II and the era of the arrogant empires that speak with force and coerce have come to an end, and the global arrogance [i.e. the U.S.] and the Zionist regime are on the way down the slope to collapse..."
The "Continued Existence [of the Zionist Regime] is an Insult to the Intelligence, the Honor, and the Virtue of the Man of our Time"; The Zionists Lack "All Human Traits"
"The problem of the Zionist regime is not an Arab-Zionist problem, a Jewish-Islamic problem, or a Middle East problem. This regime's establishment and continued existence is an insult to the intelligence, the honor, and the virtue of the man of our time. All decent people see the existence of this regime as against the rights of humanity. Zionism is not a religion, but a philosophy and an official path, with satanic goals. The Zionists are not Jews, Christians, or people of any other religion. They lack all culture and all human traits.
"The Zionist front is a party with a cadre numbering at the most 2,000, and with several thousand operatives, who are taking over the [world's] financial, political, and media centers, and parts of the governments of Europe and America.
"Most unfortunately, there are some who still do not believe that the Zionist regime seeks merely occupation and violating human rights, and that its raison d'être is only to sow corruption, division, spoilage, and threats, and that this is the reason for its continued crimes and attacks....
"The governments and the superpowers that established this artificial regime [Israel] and that defend it cannot act as mediators, [because] experience shows that their plans are always in favor of the Zionists and aimed at saving them.
"I recommend to you not to humiliate the nations any more, and not to leave them captive in the hands of the Zionists. [I call on you] to return to the right way and to the path of justice, and this will be for the good of all. If they [the Americans] aspire to real change, this would be a constructive step and a source of real peace and security."[5]
The Iranian Regime's Proposal For a "Democratic Solution" For "Liberating Palestine from the Zionist Oppression": The Return of All Palestinians to Palestine, and Elections
The two leaders of the Iranian regime, Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad, spoke also of a "democratic solution" for liberating Palestine:
Khamenei: "Respected audience! You who are present at this conference are thinkers and specialists about the problem of Palestine. Today our historical duty is not to repeat the bland statements and torpid theories of the past, but to suggest approaches for liberating Palestine from the oppression of the Zionist regime.
"Our proposal is a solution which is in total agreement with democracy and can form a common logical basis. That proposal is that all those who have a legitimate stake in the territory of Palestine, including Muslims, Christians and Jews should choose their own system of government in a general referendum. All Palestinians who have borne for years the ordeals of exile should also participate in this referendum." [6]
Ahmadinejad: "The way to solve the problem of Zionism and of the regime that is occupying Jerusalem and that has no [real] identity is by honoring the fundamental human rights of the Palestinian people to determine its own destiny. All the Palestinians, whether Muslim, Christian, or Jewish, in every place, must choose, in a referendum of a free people, their type of regime, and their elected government that will rule over all the lands of Palestine...
"Due to the essence of the Zionist regime, the significance of the continuance of its existence on a single inch of the lands of Palestine is continued crimes, occupation, threat, and insult to the peoples. The guarantee of the realization of the rights of the Palestinian people and of forcing global Zionism and its supporters to agree to free elections is the Palestinian people's legitimate and popular resistance, which has succeeded in two intifadas and in the Gaza battle to restrain the unrestrained monster and war machine of the heartless Zionists...[7]
Endnotes:
[1] IRNA (Iran), March 4, 2009.
[2] See MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 492, "An Escalating Regional Cold War — Part I: The 2009 Gaza War," February 2, 2009, http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=ia&ID=IA49209.
[3] On March 5, 2009, the Iranian daily Kayhan, which is close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warned against "the peace-seeker's mask" of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whom it called one of the main collaborators in Israel's crimes.
[4] IRNA (Iran), March 4, 2009.
[5] Website of the Iranian presidency (Iran), March 4, 2009.
[6] Office of the Supreme Leader website, March 4, 2009; IRNA (Iran), March 4, 2009.
[7] Website of the Iranian presidency (Iran), March 4, 2009.