Ahmadinejad on Israel: 30 jaw-dropping quotes

President Ahmadinejad of Iran may well become someone the West "can do business with", for pragmatic political reasons. However, it is hard to forget his rhetoric: he is not likely to be joining the Islam Is Peace project,  q.v...

1. "Israel must be wiped off the map … The establishment of a Zionist regime was a move by the world oppressor against the Islamic world . . . The skirmishes in the occupied land are part of the war of destiny.  The outcome of hundreds of years of war will be defined in Palestinian land."
October 26, 2005
(In an address to 4,000 students at a program titled, 'The World Without Zionism')

NB The translation of this quote is debated and has also been read as "Israel must disappear from the page of history"

2. "The Zionist regime is an injustice and by its very nature a permanent threat. Whether you like it or not, the Zionist regime is heading toward annihilation.  The Zionist regime is a rotten, dried tree that will be eliminated by one storm."
April 14, 2006
(In a speech at the opening of the "Support for the Palestinian Intifada" conference on April 14-16 hosted in Tehran)

3. "Today, they [Europeans] have created a myth in the name of Holocaust and consider it to be above God, religion and the prophets … This is our proposal: give a part of your own land in Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to them [Jews] so that the Jews can establish their country."
December 14, 2005
(Speaking to thousands of people in the Iranian city of Zahedan)

4. "The Zionist regime is the flag bearer of violation and occupation and this regime is the flag of Satan. …It is not unlikely that this regime be on the path to dissolution and deterioration when the philosophy behind its creation and survival is invalid."
August 18, 2007 
(Address to an international religious conference in Tehran)

5. "A new Middle East will prevail without the existence of Israel."
August 4, 2006
(as quoted by Malaysian news agency Bernama website)

6. "In parallel to the official political war there is a hidden war going on and the Islamic states should benefit from their economic potential to cut off the hands of the enemies."

7. "Some European countries insist on saying that Hitler killed millions of innocent Jews in furnaces.... Although we don't accept this claim, if we suppose it is true, our question for the Europeans is: Is the killing of innocent Jewish people by Hitler the reason for their support to the occupiers of Jerusalem?  If the Europeans are honest they should give some of their provinces in Europe -- like in Germany, Austria or other countries -- to the Zionists and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe."
December 8, 2005
(While speaking to journalists at an Islamic summit in Mecca)

8. "The Zionists are the true manifestation of Satan . . . Many Western governments that claim to be pioneers of democracy and standard bearers of human rights close their eyes over crimes committed by the Zionists and by remaining silent support the Zionists due to their hedonistic and materialistic tendencies."
February 28, 2007
(to a meeting of Sudanese Islamic scholars in Khartoum)

9. "Thanks to people's wishes and God's will the trend for the existence of the Zionist regime is downwards and this is what God has promised and what all nations want…Just as the Soviet Union was wiped out and today does not exist, so will the Zionist regime soon be wiped out"
December 12, 2006
(Comments to Iran's Holocaust Conference)

10. "Though the enemy had made preparations for not allowing Iran (president) to make his voice heard, but, they could not succeed and thanks to grace of God the world people heard our voice."
September 30, 2007

11. "Zionists are people without any religion.  They are lying about being Jewish because religion means brotherhood, friendship and respecting other divine religions…
They are an organized minority who have infiltrated the world. They are not even a 10,000-strong organization."
August 28, 2007
(At a news conference in Tehran)

12.  "With God's help, the countdown button for the destruction of the Zionist regime has been pushed by the hands of the children of Lebanon and Palestine . . . By God's will, we will witness the destruction of this regime in the near future."
June 3, 2007
(Speech, as quoted by the Fars News Agency)

13. "Although the main solution is for the elimination of the Zionist regime, at this stage an immediate cease-fire must be implemented."
August 2, 2006
(as quoted by Iranian TV)

14. "[N]o Muslim nation would put up with this entity [i.e. Israel] in Islamic lands, not for one moment … If it's true that the [Europeans] committed a big crime in World War II, then they must take responsibility for it themselves, and not ask the Palestinian people to pay the price … Those countries that support this regime [Israel] were terrified at the suggestion that [Israel] should be relocated to their neighborhood. So why should the Palestinians and the countries in our region accept this entity?"
(In a speech before an audience in the Iranian city of Qom, aired on television)

15. "They [the United States] think they are the absolute rulers of the world."
October 29, 2005
(Marching in a demonstration alongside a crowd of students in Tehran)

16. "It is not just for a few states to sit and veto global approvals. Should such a privilege continue to exist, the Muslim world with a population of nearly 1.5 billion should be extended the same privilege."
June 19, 2005
(In an interview with state television shortly before his election)

17. "Iran's enemies know your courage, faith and commitment to Islam and the land of Iran has created a powerful army that can powerfully defend the political borders and the integrity of the Iranian nation and cut off the hand of any aggressor and place the sign of disgrace on their forehead."

18. "Soon Islam will become the dominating force in the world, occupying first place in the number of followers amongst all other religions."

19."What is important is that they have shown the way to martyrdom which we must follow.''
[President Ahmadinejad's comments on an aircraft crash in Tehran that killed 108 people in December 2005].

20. "Is there a craft more beautiful, more sublime, more divine, than the craft of giving yourself to martyrdom and becoming holy? Do not doubt, Allah will prevail, and Islam will conquer mountain tops of the entire world."

21. "Our revolution's main mission is to pave the way for the reappearance of the Twelfth Imam, the Mahdi."

22. "The wave of the Islamist revolution will soon reach the entire world."

23. "We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world."
January 21 2006

24. "Our enemies should know that they are unable to even slightly hurt our nation and they cannot create the tiniest obstacle on its glorious and progressive way."
April 28 2006

25. "By the grace of Allah, we (will be) a nuclear power."

26. "If you have burned the Jews, why don't you give a piece of Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to Israel. Our question is, if you have committed this huge crime, why should the innocent nation of Palestine pay for this crime?"
April 19, 2006

27. "The UN structure is one-sided, stacked against the world of Islam."
June 8, 2005
(In an interview on state television)

28. "Are they human beings?... They (Zionists) are a group of blood-thirsty savages putting all other criminals to shame."
(as quoted by Iranian TV)

29. "The Zionists and their protectors are the most detested people in all of humanity, and the hatred is increasing every day."
July 13, 2006
(as quoted by Iranian state television)

30. ''We say that this fake regime (Israel) cannot logically continue to live. Open the doors (of Europe) and let the Jews go back to their own countries."
April 24, 2006
(In a news conference held on April 24, 2006)

Comments

[Luke]

At least he speaks his mind, which is more than can be said the Zionists and Neo-cons who rule this world through stealth and deception.

[Mohammed]

Most of his quotes have been taken out of context. Translating Persian into English is very complex. Here is a link to debunk the most important of his quotes:

"Lost in translation

Experts confirm that Iran's president did not call for Israel to be 'wiped off the map'. Reports that he did serve to strengthen western hawks" - (source the guardian)

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/jonathan_steele/2006/06/post_155.html

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

Well this Zionist spent the day in a mainly Arab school in Jaffa, teaching the mainly Arab pupils new music for Succot and Simhat Torah, two national as well as religious Jewish holidays here; extending sympathy to those who are fasting for Ramadan and still having to attend my music lessons in the heat (they don't have to participate); and enjoying the lovely local Arabic pop music offered to the class by eager students.

These kids are the future and not the hate-mongers and their foolish, if not sinful Western supporters.

[David McMillan]

I'm sure you could have easy found 30 harsh comments Bush made about Sadam before we went to war. 30 things unfavorable Giuliani is saying now... So would that mean the rest of the world has the right to attack us?

Oh wait it's different when we say nasty things about others, while then killing and torturing them.

What happens if Iran makes the clam they are going to start a preemptive war on Israel? After all Israel is bigger risk to Iran then Iraq was to us. What's right for us should be right for others? [sic]

[Rod Polisher]

All you have done is propagated the lie about what he said. He was quoting Khomeini when he said "The illegal regime occupying Al-Quds (Jerusalem) should vanish from the pages of time / history". This is easily verifiable. You'll note that he never mentioned Israel, Jews or maps. Nothing in what he said implies any action on the part of Iran against Israel. Besides, Iran trying to fight against a 200 nuclear weapons armed Israel is patently ridiculous. What he was referring to was the disappearance of the Soviet Union, Apartheid and many other odious stains on Humanity, all of whom have disappeared with a shot being fired.

[Rod Polisher]

It's great when people in the media who should know better, start to demonize Iran to soften up public opinion before an attack or should I say war crime?

Please produce some / any shred of evidence that Iran is guilty of ANY illegal activity. We've all seen how reliable Israeli / US intelligence is when it came to Iraqi WMDs, 45 minute launch times and dishonest PowerPoints to the UN by Colin Powell.

The IAEA and the CIA have both said Iran is 10 years away from getting a nuclear weapon IF it headed in that direction. There is NO evidence to suggest so. They are legally entitled to enrich Uranium up to 5% to use in a fuel cycle to generate electricity. They have managed to achieve about 3.75%! To weaponize it requires 90%+

Why doesn't the US offer the Iranians a light water reactor whose fuel cannot be weaponized?

The real reason is Oil, American hegemony and neutralizing any "potential" threat to Israel. Oh, and I almost forget, to teach the Iranians a lesson for selling their oil in Euros and not dollars just like Saddam had the audacity to do!

[Rod Polisher]

A far more newsworthy story would be the 25,000 loyal Iranian Jews who have lived peacefully there for the last 2,500 years from before the time of Christ.

Israel is trying to tempt them to emigrate there but with little success. They are being offered an additional $60,000 USD on top of the already generous incentives.

[Rod Polisher]

It is OK to deny the existence of God but we cannot even examine or question the accuracy of the Holocaust. Is the Holocaust more important than God?

Questioning the true extent of the Holocaust is NOT the same as denying it. Ahmedinejad was right when he said that we do not stop studying Physics because there is enough information about it.

We are continually and consistently told that 6 million Jews died including 4 million at Auschwitz. So if it was found that the figure turned out to be much less, then surely it would be a cause for celebration. Unless you were not too happy about the reparations being paid cut to reflect this.

The OFFICIAL Auschwitz museum has already reduced the number down from 4 million to 1.1 million in 1992 on their website and the memorial plaque.

http://www.auschwitz.org.pl/new/let_my_people_live/forum/www.auschwitzanniversary2005.pl/index-eng76df.html?s2=facts&s3=liczby

The Red Cross on their website state 1.5 million (90% Jewish) were interred at Auschwitz but only 7,500 people survived. A discrepancy of 2.5 million.

http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/68zeb2?opendocument

So maybe Ahmedinejad was right after all?

The Auschwitz Museum or the Red Cross can hardly be accused of being anti-semitic?

I bet you will not have the guts to print this, even though it contains the truth backed up by indisputable facts from organizations whose credentials are impeccable!

[David Mccaig]

Why the propoganda? What are you trying to sell? Who are you trying to persuade? Your tactics can only appeal to the ignorant. The enlightened see you for what they are and can only shake their heads with contempt at the hatred that you are trying to create.

[Chris Gillibrand]

I seem to remember that some people said that Hitler's words were also mistranslated.

A thoroughly Westernised exile from Iran who wore only expensive designer brands, once told me that she wanted to push all the Jews in Israel into the sea. If that is what the opponents of the Iranian government think, I dread myself to think what is presently believed in Iran.

[Rowan]

Here's what i don't understand about conservative columists.

They say Israel is a wonderful because it is a democracy. Yet by hysterically pointing out certain Arab hostilities towards the ZIONIST regime, pundits like Finkelstein are automatically associating the modern Israeli democratic state with a purely Zionist state.

The true Zionist state would have to fulful its Zionist principles - to establish a Jewish homeland from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River. And this is presicely the vision held by Ben-Gurion and his first cabinet (they agreed in public to the UN-partition, but in private, as revealed by Israeli archives, they envisioned the annexing of the West Bank and Gaza). Also, the Zionst state was envisioned as a homeland STRICTLY for the jews (otherwise it cease to be Eretz Yisrael). This is perhaps the only national ideology in the world (besides apartheid South Africa or Nazism) where notions of racial purity are central to the ideology itself.

If I call to 'wipe the imperialist regime off the map' with reference to American, does that mean i want to liquidate America, or just to get rid of the neo-cons? Life is not always as black and white as you may think, Daniel.

[Desmond Taylor]

Well this really bought out the tin-foil hat gang.So this kerfuffle was just a translation error?. If only there had been a decent translation of Adolf's speeches maybe that 'incident' might not have occurred. When this man says that he is expecting the coming of the 12th Imman, I expect that was transcription error too. Wait till the silly people at Queer Iran find out it was all a hoax and they can all 'come out'. I wonder what other parts of History have been mistranslated?.

[Stanzler]

Desmond Taylor, you may not want to believe Ahmadinejad regarding Israel but please read this article - Right from the horses mouth:

A racist Jewish state

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/884358.html

[Kev]

Don't you just love apologists - the same type of people were having a love in with Hitler before the second world war and always come up with excuses for some of the most evil men / women in the world. One thing that they don't mention is that the majority of muslims regard Ahmadinejad as a complete loony. I suppose these same people will come up with excuses for Mugabe next. I do agree that we have to be careful not to lump this guy in with Islam as that would be an insult to the millions of Muslims throughout the world.

[Eugene]

If it were true that the Zionists are European I suppose we could do a deal. Muslim countries such as Iran could stop denying homelands to other peoples (I have in mind the Kurds and the people of West Africa) Turkey could relinquish the parts of Europe it still occupies, a legacy of the Ottoman Empire. Constantinople - sorry, Istanbul - could become the new Jerusalem. Turkey could also pay reparations for the genocide of one million Christian Armenians 90 years ago.

But the fact is Zionists are Jews and Jews come from Israel. They have been fighting the Palestinians (Philistines) for thousands of years. Once David killed Goliath with a stone, now the Philistines throw stones at David. It's their fight and nobody elses.

[Timothy]

Love the observation that there are 25,000 "loyal Iranian Jews" in that country. And isn't that really the issue? Jews are tolerable as long as they lack political power and remain "loyal" to the host country that has graciously allowed them to live there.
Those who say they oppose Zionism but have nothing against Jews are really saying they won't tolerate a Jew having political power.
Ahmedinijad holds this position, too: on the one hand he argues that Europeans ought to give land to Jews if they wish to recompense them for the crime of the Holocaust (see #7), even while saying "the Zionists are the true manifestation of Satan" (see #8). For Ahmedinijad, the location of the "Zionist Entity" is irrelevant. That there is a "Zionist Entity" is not.

[SgtG]

I despise this man with a strong passion. I suspect I will see him fall but I fear that his destruction will bring more trouble to the world. These are hard times we all are living in. Its a shame we cant share this little planet together.

[Al]

What makes Ahmadinejad so fearful to the powers-that-be (and their servants in the mainstream newsmedia) is that he is practically the first third-world leader ever who is telling the world the unadorned and undistorted truth. As they can't answer him (how can you answer someone who is simply telling the truth, anyway?), they resort to taking single phrases and sentences out of context, as well as the usual mistranslations by biased individuals. If you are interested in learning what he really stands for, please read the blog below:

http://ahmadinejadquotes.blogspot.com/

[Ben]

And we are supposed to let this guy build nuclear bombs?

[stanzler]

"And we are supposed to let this guy build nuclear bombs?

Posted by: Ben | 4 Oct 2007 20:28:01"

Only one county has ever used nuclear weapons on unarmed civilians. Can you guess? Yes, they're very close allies and greatly influenced by Israel. Do you expect Iran (or any other country) to trust that country? Furthermore, Iran does not wish to be "Iraqed"

[Rod Polisher]

Timothy, Most Zionists and their apologists would have us believe that Jews are not safe anywhere in the world apart from Israel, when in fact the opposite is true. If Iran was so Anti-Jewish (I hesitate to use the term Anti-Semitic as Middle Eastern Arabs, The Maltese and even some East Africans are Semitic too), they have been pretty negligent in allowing these Jews to live there for 2500 years!

I guess Ahmedinejad had something in common with Jesus then because he also decried the Scribes and Pharisees in John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil". The only time he used violence of sorts was to throw out the money changers from the temple.

Modern Jews proudly proclaim that they uphold the Pharisaic tradition and the oldest continuos legal code the (odious, racist, supremacist, hate-filled) Talmud. Ever wonder why the Talmud is not in Libraries or easily available. Read it, educate yourself and find out!

[Rod Polisher]

Timothy, In Iran, each religious group gets one parliamentry representative per 150,000 of population. Despite there being less Jews to qualify for a representative, they still have one.

In Bahrain, there is a Jewish woman (Huda Nonoo) and Christian woman(Alice Seeman) representative on the Shura Council (the upper house similar to the Senate or House of Lords). The Jewish population of Bahrain is about 30 people.

Nicholas Sarkozy in France is a 2nd generation Hungarian Jewish immigrant. Our Foreign Secretary David Milliband and his brother Ed who is a fellow Minister are Jewish. Ditto Michael Howard, Peter Mandelson, Leon Brittan, Nigel Lawson, Edwina Currie, Oliver Letwin, Margaret Hodge...

A list of American Jewish politicians would take too long to compile.

Makes your claim of denying Jews political power pretty embarassing.

[Maggie Millington]

Despicable little man !

[Rod Polisher]

And we are supposed to let this guy build nuclear bombs? - Ben

Do you have ANY evidence that the Iranians either want to or have tried to build nuclear weapons? Evidence does not include what politicians say, what you saw on the TV or read in the paper. Evidence is something tangible that the IAEA or other agencies can confirm.

Iran has had over 2000 inspections, IAEA cameras are in place and the Iranians are in complete compliance.

Now Israel's programme on the other hand at Dimona...Lied to its allies, concealed and denied its existence, no IAEA inspections, not a signatory to the NPT....

[Timothy]

Rod, it is obvious that political power and token representation are not the same thing. On the contrary, the latter seeks by intention to undercut the former. Political power is only worthy of the definition when it can be fully exercised.
As for a Jewish political presence in the west, to be sure there are many in positions of power. Isn't this one of the reasons why we are assaulted daily with claims of a Zionist-controlled media, banking and political systems?
Clearly, any expression of Jewish political power, whether it's in the west or Israel, is viewed by many as the problem--hence the cries of Zionist conspiracies left and right.

[David]

Rod Polisher, there are most than 650,000 Baha'is in Iran, do they seats in the Parliament? No. What they get is imprisonment, sometimes death, some just disappear; their businesses are stolen, their children are denied education their Holy places are bulldozed. Come on,wake up to what's really going on, not what you 'think' is going on.

[Max]

This a very powerful video.
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened

[Albert Bakker]

I'm looking for such a courageous page of jaw dropping quotes of Mubarak or son of Mubarak, commander Musharraf, prince Abdullah, or king Abdullah II, Meles Zenawi, Olmert or some other friendly friend, but I am unable to find it. Would that be because have better skills or better papers as diplomats? How fortunate we are we have journalists who find that out for us.

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

Thanks for posting this piece - now we see the extent of the problem. Many of your posters would have supported Hitler too.

What drivel and what total and utter ignorance of history and the present situation.

Sorry to disillusion you, but the Israeli charter actually safeguards equal rights for all religions and ethnicities and as I made clear above, the mainly Jewish and Zionist teachers in the school I mentioned are giving the mainly Arab kids, 40% of whom are Muslim, the best possible education.

I wonder what sort of marvellous education Jews are getting in Syria, Saudi Arabia, or Egypt with their blood libels and 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion'.

Oh sorry, I forgot - most of these countries are Judenrein - not surprising as it has now been shown that Islamism started in the 30s, and not as a result of Israel's creation as a state.

Do go to hear Matthias Kuentzel at Leeds University this week, Wednesday October 11th on the subject of the link between Islamicism and Naziism and even better, do read his new book,

Jihad and Jew-Hatred,

Telos Press, which comes out on Novermber 1st and which I shall be reviewing.

Will keep you posted.

[Eugene]

Mr Polisher, you come across as a tad fanatical. Have you studied psychology at all? Have a look a 'The Confirmation Bias'. This explains how the human brain is wired to be bigotted: it decides on a belief (e.g. Jews are bad) and then will absorb, sometimes feverishly, any information that confirms this belief while at the same time deliberately ignoring that which does not. It's a survival mechanism and an impediment to true intelligence.

[Erniede Silva]

I hope Libby Purves will now have the guts to compile a list of comments/teachings from the other side. eg "Jesus is a bastard", referred to by a Bishop in the USA just yesterday.

[Tom Welsh]

One of Ahmadinejad's questions is why, if the Americans and Europeans wanted to give the Jews a home, they didn't give them some of their own land, rather than annexing it from poor and defenceless people living in Palestine.

That seems to me to be a very reasonable question. Since the great majority of Jews had been living in Europe for over 1000 years (with many of them recently moving to the USA), why help them to establish an entirely new state in the Near East? Why not give them part of England, or France, or Germany, or perhaps Texas? I think we can easily guess why not.

What could be more absurd than the idea that a group of people (we should not speak of "race", a discredited term no longer used by scientists) should be entitled to annex the land where their ancestors lived 1800 years ago? By analogy, the Italians could claim to rule over most of Europe and the Near East, and the native Americans could eject all US citizens of European descent from their continent.

[John Gregory Flinn]

"Do you have ANY evidence that the Iranians either want to or have tried to build nuclear weapons?"

For ROD POLISHER;
I would'nt be too quick to dismiss observations about Iran's nuclear intentions.
Compliance with the IAEA is important in this context, but it is a fact that as well as enrichment of uranium Iran is planning to build a Heavy Water separation plant.
Why?
Well, not being privy to their plans I do not know. But it is true that Heavy Water can be used in a Canadian type of nuclear power reactor, and which, coincidentally, is the best source of the by-product Plutonium 239. (Other present-day reactor types generally produce a mix of Plutonium isotopes not readily suitable as warheads.) Which fissile material also happens to be the first choice for weapon warheads.

Of course, they might be going to export the Heavy Water......!

You are right about Israel's Dimona plant.

[alex]

i wonder what happened to the UK, since i moved to germany 8 years ago.
with dismay i read, that shop assistants refuse to deal with customers purchasing alcohol or contraceptives.
convicted terrorists were hired by the london tube.
dentists won't treat the female patients not wearing a hijab.
i won't mention tons of other sickening stuff.
and now ahmedinejad is all misunderstood and the holocaust is *fairly fabricated*?
i see people are happy to accommodate extremist islam and even more happy to bash and boycot israel.
when did this madness start?
next step up, i imagine will be shop assistants refusing to serve customers altogether.
they used to put up signs in the shops in germany, starting 1935:
"juden werden hier nicht bedient".
how about:
"we don't serve kuffars here"
people should start to wake up - if they actually care to do so.

So which of President Ahmadinejad's quotes do you actually disagree with?
The State of Israel was founded because of a European guilt complex over the Holocaust and the desire to create a Western foothold in Arabia.
Here's another for you to disagree with: "The number of Holocaust survivors seems to increase every year." Think that was David Ivring, another person often quoted out of context.
Face it, Israel's had an easy ride for far too long.
You can always rely on Faith Page contributors to spit the dummy.
Was it the five-minute argument or the full half-hour?

[Rod Polisher]

Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA - Jews and non-Jews may be equal in the eyes of the law in Israel, but the application of the law is certainly not equal.

Now you are trying to link Islam with the Nazis! Everyone know the grand mufti of Jerusalem met with and was photographed with Hitler. This is no different to Donald Rumsfeld meeting with Saddam Hussein. The only difference is that Rumsfeld was meeting with Saddam to sell him chemical weapons, mapping information, targetting systems etc. I don't recall the mufti selling Hitler any weapons or there being a Palestinian arms industry of any note. Maybe if there had been, Palestine wouldn't be in the mess that it is!

[robert lee]

From an outsiders perspective, if it is deemed relevant- and for those on either side who wish to stir up feelings for and against.

The Buddha said:

Hatred will never overcome hatred- only love can overcome hatred.

sarva mangalam

[Alfonso Parelli]

He didnt ask for Israel to be wiped off the mape. He was talking about the regime and has asked for regime change in the same way as the soviet union.

[mike]

Sometimes we make the most fundamental errors. When large numbers of people make mistakes -- even monumental ones -- it is almost impossible to challenge the resultant prevailing view. It was once the conventional wisdom that the earth is flat. In ancient times if anyone dared to claim that the earth was round, they would have been denigrated as being detached from reality. When, in the 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus dared suggest that the sun was the centre of the solar system and not the earth, he was regarded as a heretic.
In today's world any attempt to explain the Arab-Israeli conflict in terms other than "Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian land" and the "denial of Palestinian nationalist aspiration" is often regarded like a declaration that the earth is flat and the center of the universe. But what if this view is wrong? What if, in terms of understanding the Arab-Israeli conflict, we are living in pre-Copernican times? What if the Jewish State that is considered to be the root of all evil in the Middle East were instead the victim?

Unlike the ANC, Israel has not found genuine negotiating partners.

South Africa's Apartheid history is often invoked against Israel both internationally -- by former President Carter amongst many others -- and in South Africa -- by trade union leaders and politicians. But what if the real Apartheid of the Middle East is the one directed against the Jews? And what if Israel is more akin to the African National Congress (ANC) -- the famous South African liberation organization led by Nelson Mandela and now the governing party? In South Africa the conflict was caused by a white racist Apartheid regime. The ANC was always ready to talk peace, but the regime refused to talk and so the conflict could not be resolved, and the ANC was forced into an armed struggle. Like the ANC, the Israeli government has always been ready to talk peace but has been forced since the birth of the Jewish State into an armed defensive struggle because the anti-Semitic Arab world has not been prepared to talk peace. The ANC had to wage an armed struggle for many years until finally white South Africans were ready to talk, and then the long-standing conflict was resolved relatively quickly. Unlike the ANC, Israel has not found genuine negotiating partners. And so its struggle continues, and peace remains a distant dream.
What if Zionism is not colonialism but rather an ancient people's deep connection to their native, historical and covenantal land? What if the real colonialism is Arab expansionism, which contests a Jewish state on even 1/520th of the area of Arab lands? Nearly 4000 years ago the forefathers of the Jewish People, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived in the land of Israel, which God had promised to them and to their descendants forever. That promise was confirmed at Mount Sinai, and was delivered upon by God through Joshua, after the death of Moses, more than 3 300 years ago when the Jewish People entered the land after being liberated from Egyptian slavery and oppression. About 3000 years ago King David established Jerusalem as the capital city of the Promised Land. The Jewish people lived in the Land of Israel for 850 years until their expulsion by invading Babylonians. They returned in large numbers seventy years afterwards and remained for many centuries until their eviction by the Roman Empire. Despite unremitting anti-Semitism and persecution some Jewish communities managed against great odds to remain in Israel during the long interval between the Roman dispersion and the events leading to the re-establishment of the Jewish State in 1948.
Destroying Jews
What if the dispute has never been about Palestinian statehood but really about the destruction of the Jews and the only Jewish State on earth? In 1917, the Balfour Declaration, confirmed later by international law through the League of Nations, declared the British Mandate of Palestine to be a National Homeland for the Jewish People, recognising 4000 years of Jewish connection to the land, and the injustice of the destruction of ancient Israel by the Romans and the forced removal of the Jewish people. In 1922 the British took 76% of the land designated for a Jewish state in Palestine and allocated it instead to the Arabs, creating east of the Jordan River a new country than called Transjordan, and later, to be known as Jordan, which to this day has a Palestinian majority.
In 1947 the United Nations voted to establish two states -- one Arab and one Jewish -- west of the Jordan river on the remaining 24% of the original portion of land allocated for a Jewish State by the international community. In spite of this reduction to their original portion the Jews accepted the offer, which was then rejected by the Arabs. This was the beginning of a long history of Arab rejectionism. And so, in 1948 the newly reborn State of Israel was invaded by Arab armies from Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and the Arab Legion, all of which made it quite clear that they intended to destroy the tiny Jewish state its at rebirth and to massacre its citizens, many of whom were Holocaust survivors.
Israel survived the war, and from 1948 to 1967, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip were in Arab hands and there was no "occupation" of these territories then. If the cause for the Arab-Israeli conflict is the "occupation" of the West Bank and Gaza then why did the conflict rage throughout these years unabated, with continued Arab refusal to recognise Israel and to make peace with its Jewish neighbour? Why was it that in mid-1967 just before the 6 Day War, and before the West Bank and Gaza fell into Jewish hands that Arab leaders called for the destruction of Israel? What "occupation" was at issue? Why at that time did Syrian President Hafiz al-Assad order his soldiers to attack Jewish civilian targets to "pave the Arab roads with the skulls of Jews"?
For the19 years that Jordan controlled the West Bank and Egypt the Gaza Strip, the Arab world had the opportunity of establishing another Palestinian State in those territories, and chose not to. Why not? If the conflict is about Palestinian Statehood, then why was there no talk whatever of a Palestinian State for all those 19 years? After the Six-Day War, Israel immediately tried to enter into negotiations with the Arab world about the political future of the West Bank and Gaza. The response came from the Khartoum Conference of all the Arab States on 1 September 1967 in the form of the infamous 3 No's -- "No Peace, No Negotiation, No Recognition". And so, when in 2000 at Camp David, Yassar Arafat rejected without making a counter-offer at all, Israel's proposed 95% of the West Bank and Gaza as well as land compensation for the remaining 5%, his rejection was wholly consistent with Arab rejectionism of any Jewish presence at all.

The conflict is really about Arab rejection of the very presence and existence of a Jewish State.

If the Arab-Israeli conflict is about a Palestinian State then there has always been an obvious solution of two states living in peace side by side. The conflict is more fundamental and therefore, all the more intractable, and is really about Arab rejection of the very presence and existence of a Jewish State, and probably any Jews at all, in the heart of the Middle East. And so the very charter of Hamas calls for the murder of all Jews world-wide. And rockets from Gaza continue to target Israeli civilians even after Israel evacuation. And threats of genocide and a second holocaust, together with denial of the first, emanate from Iran. And the Arab world is awash with the most rabid and pernicious anti-Semitism.
What if the war directed against the State of Israel is really the global war of fundamentalist tyranny against freedom and democracy? Then indeed all of those who believe, with the best of intentions, that they are defending a vulnerable victim, are actually being complicit in one of the worst injustices in the history of human civilization. They will have sided with the forces of death and destruction, of fear and prejudice. What if the world is siding against the only beacon of freedom and democracy in the Middle East, thereby endangering us all, because the fate of Jews is often a sign portending the future? Hitler came after the Jews first, and then he attacked the world. Suicide bombings began in Jerusalem and then migrated to New York, Bali, Madrid, London and Nairobi.
We need clarity to understand these tumultuous times. We also need an ultimate vision of peace and reconciliation between Arab and Jew. The conflict in the Middle East is between brothers, and that is the real tragedy. We are all the children of Abraham; Jews are the children of his son Isaac, and Arabs the children of his son Ishmael. The Talmud tells us that, although the sons of Abraham fought for many years, when Abraham was buried in Hebron, Isaac and Ishmael were reconciled at his grave. Let us all pray to God that we will merit to see the day when brother will once again be reconciled with brother in the Middle East.

[A Rad]

"Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be “wiped from the map” and described the Holocaust as a “myth”. "
By now it is scarcely credible hat anyone would not be aware of the actual translation of Ahmadinejad's word (To vanish the 'Zionis Regime/Entity'), not the propaganda version printed here , which Times seems to be repeating again.
A well-reputed newspaper should indeed regard its integrity and credibility highly, or there will be very strong doubt doubt cast on its objectivity and lack of bias.
(Would you print this comment?)

[kirtikar]

The real war is between God of Bible and God of Islam. It is my firm belief that the God of Bible will prevail, and whosoever will touch the 'apple of His eye' will not be spared! (Zeh. 2:8).

Though the comments of the Iranian President are provocative and disturbing and totally untrue, God's favour is on Israel and will remain so for ever. God is the defender of Israel (Ps. 121:4) and God will bring His curse upon those who curse Israel (Gen. ) and God of Bible will deal with other nations as they deal with nation Israel.(Mathew 25:40).God is in absolute authority and He has not made nation Israel to be destroyed by some mad terrorist! For Israel is created by the Will of the God of Bible who is omnipotent, omniscent and omnipresent while all other nations have come into existence by the act of Parliaments!.

[Kathleen]

Texas? Hmmmmmm.....don't recall God promising Texas to anyone in the Bible.

[Music]

"Ever wonder why the Talmud is not in Libraries or easily available. Read it, educate yourself and find out!"

Ah more from the white supremacist.

You have to be kidding, it is so easy to get a copy of the Talmud, there is not problem at all. Any Jewish bookstore will have copies, and you can read it very easily.

Be honest though, you've NEVER read the Talmud have you. (No, the non existent quotes you saw on stormfront don't count)

[Mary Ann Dolce]

He has every right to his opinion. Too bad everything he says is taken out of context.

[Rod Polisher]

Oh, and another thing "Music", I'm not a white supremacist as I am not white!

I don't follow any of the Abrahamic faiths either (Judaism, Islam or Christianity). I don't have an axe to grind with anyone but I will speak out against the blatant lying that the rabid Zionist supporters of Israel seem to vomit forth on a regular basis.

I am happy to condemn terrorism when it is commited in the name of Islam or any other religion.

No-one has produced 1 shred of evidence against Iran. I am still wondering what happened to the nuclear fallout from the Israeli raid in Syria. If Israel was telling the truth, surely someone would have measured some nuclear fallout....?

[Mockmood Amabadjihad]

I believe after reading all of these comments that he wants nuclear technology entirely for peaceful purposes. Yeah right! Don't forget, history tends to repeat itself if ignored.

[Mustafa bin ha-bootif-el Bebbe]

A good western spinmeister is what this fellow needs. He does make some valid points. That is the irony here. He states some important truths, such as the cheesiness of the huckstering Holocaust narrative that has emerged, and the intrinsically criminal and duplicitious nature of Zionism that we've all been witnessing. But his phrasing perhaps betrays some naivete regarding the exaggeration and mistranslation that Western Zionized media will inevitably use against him, just as we see here.

If Mr Ahamadinejad possessed the wisdom of truly spiritual soul like Ghandi or Desmond Tuttu, he could soften his image and in so doing, perhaps do advance the prospects of real peace in the region. He likes to remind us that he is an academic; well, his high-profile speeches could educate the world better regarding the sordid Zionist history. For example, earlier this year an Israeli academic named Toaff published an scholarly expose' of Jewish ritual murder! This kind of dirt is now tumbling out everywhere from historical revisionists. President Ahmadinejad could measure his words and offer creative mobilization to do more in support Palestinian rights and to highlight Israel’s actionable war crimes against Lebanon. Perhaps he could explore legal remedies, either in Islamic or Western courts. A higher moral tone, backed up with practical solutions, would do better than this repetitive rhetoric (which undoubtedly plays to the Tehran street.)

Also, anyone who believes in the 2nd coming of Twelfth Imam needs to get out a little more and educate himself! The true religion and fastest-growing is not Islam, but Christianity. Also, Christianity is infinitely better substantiated (see www.heavenly-visions.com) He and all of Islam should realize they are merely a bizarrely heterodox Christianoid sect, the be baptized and obey the Gospel.

In that vein, Western psy-ops agencies should be hammering the Iranian airwaves day and night with contraband unIslamic thought of every sort, with everything from Madonna to THE Madonna, and destabilizing them with our blathering agitprop, just as we are doing to ourselves already (if the CIA are not already doing so across the entire Islamic world). Yes, it will take a long time. But the religious maniacs out there will eventually be wiped from the page of history or removed from the map of time, or whatever the hell you call it.

[Tom]

Some of the comments here are horrifying. We in Europe have a clear historical duty to protect the state of Israel.

[Robinson]

We are heading towards war with Iran (at least the destruction of its nuclear capability). If we don't do it Israel will - you can be sure of that. And who could blame them? The sooner we get it over with the better.

[Dave]

I thought Mike made the most sensible and balanced contribution I've seen in a long time.
Certainly all protagonists in this unseemly mess have behaved badly, but history not only shows up the truth but also will repeat itself.
Moderate people of any population will only tolerate extremism for so long before rising up and expelling the infection of evil in their midst and their leadership.

[Ed]

A man who says he won't talk to Bush because he doesn't like his attitude, I mean you have got to either love him or loathe him for standing up to world's only superpower. Our history professor loves him. He thinks US has met its match in President Ahmadinejad as it never in cold war. Iran knows exactly how to disgrace world sefl-appointed police man. Who else can say "Death to America" and actually get away with it. In climate on fear since 9/11 and war on terror, it takes balls to stand up and defy openly the United States. Some more quotes at http://ayatollah.blog.co.uk/

[Robert]

Face it isreal is'nt going anywhere. They now have no place to go. Most of Ahmadinejad's statements are nothing more then political babble.
I find it stupid that they deny the holocaust, accuse USA of trying to rule the world, and attempt to insult us on a regular basis. It has no gained them more support in the world. It has only isolated them even more.
Soon they will end up pushing us & Isreal to war them next. We not trying to rule the world, but if they going to declare us as their enemy, we are not going to stay peaceful and put up with it for very much longer.

[Nigel]

I have some sympathy with some of his comments regarding the creation of Israel following World War II. The sentiment behind the creation of the Jewish state was laudable but the way in which it was superimposed on Palestine which had been an occupied islamic country for hundreds of years was always going to be trouble. Really no country in Asia, Europe or North America would have been happy to have part of their land partitioned off that way, especially if it took the lion share of the fertile land away from the indigionous people. So why are we surprised at the views of present-day Palestinians and their fellow middle-east/islamic allies saying they'd rather Israel didn't exist?

I don't have a solution and 60 years of history can't be undone that quickly but we should realise that as long as Israel exists it will never be accepted by its neighbours, and as long as we support Israel we also will be in the firing line.

[alex]

Don't rate Jews above or below anyone else. Hate Israel though.

[SIXFINGER]

Which of the quotes are jawdropping? He did not say anything which isn't true. Actually there is nothing to disagree with and I think due to this quotes Ahmadinejad is a man of his word and he would be the best person to do business with

[a wander]

Its a shame I have to waste my time responding to the likes of of Rod Polisher.
Its about time people like you woke up.
youve got two choices really. One is on the side of democracy, free speech, and peace.The other preaches destruction , anihalation and is hate filled. If you observe how they treat their own people gives an idea how you will be treated when they gain their much sought after worldwide dominance.

Its not a hard choice if you manage to remain unbiased and have an ounce of intelligence.

[Dr. Denis MacEoin]

Why do so many idiots want to cover up for this man? Forget the debate about 'wiping off the face of the earth' or 'wiping from the page of history'; on one occasion he was more explicit and called on the Islamic countries (milal-i Islami) to 'exterminate' Israel (bayad Isra'il-ra qal' o qam' kard). You need to take him at face value. There are plenty of other ways of talking about ending Israel as a state without harming its citizens. Even then, they are all illegal. The legality of Israel has never been in question.

[Pari Bigleri]

Hi:
This is a clear message of Anti-Semetisem in Iranian university.
Iranian Schholar says thatTom & Jerry is a Jewish Conspiracy. He suggest that the mouse character is a representation of the Jews.

Thank you

Pari Bigleri
New York

[Hakim]

Israel is a State, whether one wishes it or not. I believe the means used to accomplish this were reprehensible. The Zionists did whatever they saw as necessary to kill and terrorize both the British troops attempting to keep the peace, and their Arab neighbors. They undertook terror tactics (bombing of the King David Hotel as an example) in this quest. However, Israel is a State. They conquered the territory and they rule it. It is suggested they return it, that the area be taken from them, or that they “return to Europe.”

The United States conquered many indigenous populations. This was done in a brutal way as native populations were forcibly removed from their lands. Americans also used terror (massacre at Wounded Knee as an example). Does anyone seriously suggest that the United States relinquish the lands it acquired? If so, to whom? And where would modern Americans return to?

The armies of Islam, dating back even to the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him), conquered vast territories throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. These armies were brutal at times (Constantinople as an example). Do we suggest that they return those lands? If so, to whom? And where should they be returned to?

How far back in history must one go to find the truly original occupants and why would their claim be any more valid than the ones presently occupying the land? Are not the original owners of any land already dead? So no one rightly owns or occupies any land under that standard.

The problem with not accepting things as they are is they lead to further aggression and further terror. How many lives, Jewish, Christian and Muslim, must be lost before we all accept the others as just other human beings wanting to raise a family and worship as they see fit?

In ancient times, Israel claims God granted them the territory in perpetuity. But they had to take the land from the Philistines. If the Philistines are the antecedents of the Palestinians, we are speaking of a time far surpassing the conquering of modern Islamic states and that much longer from the time the United States conquered its territory. And once removed from their lands, are their claims still valid? The diaspora occurred 1,900 years prior to the establishment of modern Israel. Is their claim really valid?

Once Islam came to dominate the lands, after taking those areas by force of arms or the threat of force, Christian Europe sent Crusaders to reclaim the Holy Land. After many Crusades and wars, much bloodshed, and the stirring up of long and bitter animosity, the armies of Christianity gave up. Later, Islamic armies conquered large portions of Europe. Today, southeastern Europe has large Muslim populations.

The territory in dispute has fallen under many hands since these times. Most recently, it was part of the Ottoman Empire until the Great War. After that, it was a Mandate of the British Empire. When Britain vacated the area in 1948, Israel declared independence. There is no point in history (most significantly in recent history) where one can claim to see a Palestinian State.

In the Qur’an, Allah speaks of those “of the Book" (being Jews, Christians, and Muslims). All three faiths are brothers and should be able to find common ground, since all worship the same God! "There is no God but God." For those both “of the Book,” and those not “of the Book,” has not God promised justice in the afterlife?

I have friends who are adherents to Islam, other friends who are Christian, and others who are Jewish. I have no problem with anyone peacefully practicing what they believe. Anyone who claims to kill in the name of Yahweh, or kills in the name of Jesus, or kills in the name of Allah (which is Arabic for "God"), is simply not true to their religion. When each of us dies, God will reward or punish us as He sees fit. Let us leave to Him the rewarding or the punishing.

[ImNoDhimmi]

I can't believe your readers are actually supporting and defending Ahmadinejad. He is an evil force in the world who will happily nuke Israel as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

[Daniel Kogoy]

It is such a breath of fresh air to witness a world leader who has the courage to voice his opinion on the state of Israel. An opinion that is supported by many people living in the middle east and around the world. His comments on the mistaken geography of Israel are particularly interesting. A section of Germany should have been annexed for the creation of the Jewish state. The Palestinians did nothing to deserve this occupation.

[ruth - Manchester]

I want it to be known that I do not hate the Jews! I love them! Why does the president of Iran feel that he can speak for me? Some of us have morals inwardly - unlike some who only have them outwardly. The truth is that Israel is a land given to the Jews thousands of years ago - check the history please - don't take my word for it! I am a believer in Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah the giver of truth. I am ashamed of what many so called Christians do these days and still call themselves Christian. We have the oracles of the Lord which were given to the Jews (Hebrews)and at the end of the day - they will prevail and this is what is the real problem. If Iran is so charitable, why not take some of the Palestinians into your land? I think the truth here is that, without them, you have no excuse to persecute Israel.

[stanzler]

"I can't believe your readers are actually supporting and defending Ahmadinejad. He is an evil force in the world who will happily nuke Israel as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Posted by: ImNoDhimmi | 11 Oct 2007 17:15:25"

Sir, only one problem with that assertion. Israel has the nukes not Ahmadinejad. Israel's intelligence claimed that Iraq had wmd's. That was also a lie.

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

Mike and Denis MacEoin are talking sense here. Most of your other posters need to learn some near-Eastern history lessons, badly and quickly.

Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA
(Formerly, Lecturer in Jewish History, Dept Religions and Theology University of Manchester)

[Iranian]

Ok, so just when i thought we were doomed and these stupid governments (including Irans) had softened opinion on an attack on Iran, I read comments on here that gives me hope.

However, I'm really annoyed and offended by people comparing Ahmadinejad to Hitler. Ahmadinejad has not once said that he wanted to kill all the jews, or mention anything about a pure race.

he is simply saying that because the holocaust happened in Europe, why are the Palestinian people, who didn't persecute anyone have to pay for it? why must they be displaced? I have heard him say this myself, many times in FARSI:

instead of America and Britain trying to make up for the fact that they allowed Hitler to do what he did by giving the Jews the land promised to them in the bible, they should hold a DEMOCRATIC election for the palestinians and the jews to decide who governs them, so they live together, and the Palestinians are given back their homes and they decide, not external forces.(lets face it, they are humans too! why must they lose their homes and be stopped from having their own state? which was all originally Palestine, remember).

About people living in Iran, they aren't political, they may have their own opinions about the government but they just try and live their lives. Most of them don't like the government they helped bring in (1979) but they're dealing with it.

They also don't care much about Palestine or Israel - most think, instead of focusing outside, the government should focus on its own people.

Ahmadinejad is not Saddam Hussein or Mugabe or Hitler. Its really stupid to compare him to these people. There is only one difference between Iranian government and democratic governments such as the US...They will treat the population badly and tell them the truth about it...whereas in the latter are personified version of allegory of the cave by Plato.

[john]

A lot of you folks seem to have the answer to nearly every problem plaguing mankind. Fact is man has been at odds with man since history has been recorded. The Rodney King "Can't We All Get Along" mentality works great until it meets the reality of no we can't all get along! If you think that Iran would'nt take out every country who oposed or in some way threatens (in their view) them you need to back off whatever you are smoking, drinking, shooting, snorting or popping. So when you manage to figure out America is'nt perfect but we are way ahead of whoever is in second place you just might change the way you view countries who are a threat to us.

[esther]

thanks mike, in this sea of contempt and misinformation, a refreshing view that is sane, well thought through and historically accurate!
i switched to timesonline from the guardian because i was horrified by the talkbacks, but really these forums show how deeply entrenched jew hatred is in this culture, and the misinformation and ignorance is astounding.

[John Gregory Flinn]

HAKIM's post is a curious and contradictory mix of violence and peace.

On the one hand he describes how aggression and terror have won occupation of foreign lands.

On the other hand he then preaches peace and acceptance of "the others as just other human beings wanting to raise a family and worship as they see fit?"

Seems like hypocrisy to me.
How is 'Jihad' reconciled with such a view?
For example, there's not much evidence of non-muslims being able "to raise a family and worship as they see fit" in Irak, or Saudia Arabia or.....

There's plenty of examples of conquests of territory being rolled back. The whole post-war (WW2) de-colonisation of India, Korea, Manchuria, Indo-China, Africa etc., are part of it.
Also both Canada and the USA have returned large tracts of land to the original indigenous peoples for their autonomous rule - not all maybe but significant enough.

Perhaps he means 'conversion to Islam' when he talks about 'conquest'....!?

[Joe Islam]

Liar Liar

Your first quote is not a quote, it is your interpretation ...

The actual quote is as below:
"Imam ghoft een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad."

The full quote translated directly to English:

"The Imam said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time."

Word by word translation:

Imam (Khomeini) ghoft (said) een (this) rezhim-e (regime) ishghalgar-e (occupying) qods (Jerusalem) bayad (must) az safheh-ye ruzgar (from page of time) mahv shavad (vanish from).

[Peter]

And your point is? Is Ahmadinejad any crazier than Blair or Bush? The Iranian people know they elected a fruit loop to office and are trying to figure out how to dump him. It would help if any American ever went to Iran and made friends with the normal people. I could write a paper in one hour taking Blair's famous quotes from his imaginery football match to his imaginery stowing away on a plane to his imaginary WMD in Iraq and make him not only a megalomaniac but a mass murderer too. Ands wasn't Israel founded by terrorists or was the King David Hotel not blown up?

[M. de Zeeuw]

As so many Muslims believing in universal values (love for God and one's fellow human beings, justice, peace, compassion, honesty) and universal norms (human rights), I passionately disown Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial and other patterns of despicable behaviour.

[JK]

i think one thing that many people overlook is that he wants to rule the world!! Hitler was subtle about his aims and look what happened there. this poor excuse for a statesman is outwardly preaching hate in the global arena. this lunatic speaks for a tiny proportion of the islamic world but its just a matter of time before this aggressive form of islam spreads and dominates other more moderate forms of islam.

when this happens, God help us all....

[Krapotkin]

In fail to be offended by Iranian President's attacks on the Zionist State. Numerous non Zionist Jews are also offended by the terrorist activities of the political rulers of the State of Israel, with over sixty years of ethnic cleansing of Palestinian Arabs from own lands, and the use of the Holocaust, and of the anti-semitism slur, as an excuse and cover.
Privet
Texas, USA

[girl15]

Why do you allways make things that muslim politicians say about religion. I've never heard Chaves or Castro being critisiest for such thing eaven though Chaves also clearly is against Israel

[Vorax]

"..It is such a breath of fresh air to witness a world leader who has the courage to voice his opinion on the state of Israel.."
Posted by: Daniel Kogoy

I love your "I salute your courage" style, well done. One needs to hope this "world leader"'s mouth will be soon inspected with pencil light, and so on.

By the way your name (Daniel) means "God's judge" in Hebrew. Sounds rather clumsy. Didn't think to change it, say, for Abd-Ahmadinejad?

[Imdad]

What about the quote Isreali made
The sky will fall on Palestinian. People don't see what Isreali are doing to other people.

[Mary Catherine]

I see many people are attacking the interpretation of the 'Israel wiped off the map' quote. For one, even if he was repeating what someone else said, what was the purpose? To reiterate the point?

Secondly, you make no mention of the other 29 statements. Why is this?

Lastly, do you also deny that Ahmadinejad said 'there are no homosexuals in Iran' at Columbia University recently? Is it because Iran kills them, or that they, miraculously, do not exist only in Iran? I would like an answer.

Ahmadinejad is a dangerous fanatic. That is the truth.

[elizmr]

Dear Joe Islam, please note that the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting DISAGREES with you on the translation. http://www.iribnews.ir/Full_en.asp?news_id=200247

[Smike]

Are these "quotes" enough incitement for Iran to be 'saved' from itself by the west?

[chanah]

Dear Joe Islam
you're forgetting one importing thing.
As long as GOD is watching over Israel she will NOT BE MOVED EVER.
Psalm 121
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth ISRAEL shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore

[Canadian Nite Owl]

One side for the most part argues points and asks questions. The other side seems to rely on insult and ancient biblical land grants. I guess if you are unwilling to answer questions your only option is attack. Web access has made it far more difficult to sell propaganda than it used to be. People are asking questions which demand answers. You have to ask yourself, who's afraid of those answers and why? I may not like to hear the truth but I always want to know it.

[Mark]

There is no innocent party in this.

All sides have wronged, and been wronged.

All sides are too proud and too foolish to find a resolution.

And will continue with their petty arguments in this irrational feud.

[Jim MacDonald]

We are being asked to believe that
G--D gave the Jewish people the deeds
to the land called Palestine.The "fly
in the ointment" with that argument is
why then did G--D populate that land
with Palestinians and allow them to stay there for thousands of years.
Personally I think it was the guilt of the West over the Holocaust that shamed the West into granting the Jews
Palestinian land via the UN.

[Dave]

He should cast away his uranium and rejoice in the diversity of the human race!