Dec. 15, 2006
Iran and Hamas Call for Destruction of Israel
Just days before Tehran held a Holocaust denial conference condemned around the world, Iranian and Palestinian leaders met in Tehran and reiterated their calls for the destruction of Israel. Iran’s sponsorship of terrorist groups like Hamas and pursuit of nuclear arms, coupled with its president’s call for “a world without the United States and Zionism,” underscore the increasing danger posed in the Middle East and beyond by this extremist regime.
Calling for Israel’s Destruction
During the recent meetings, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged $250 million to support the Hamas-led PA, which has refused to meet internationally backed demands to end violence and recognize the Jewish state. Ahmadinejad and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh also reaffirmed their shared commitment to the annihilation of the Jewish state. Below are some recent statements from the extremist Hamas leadership and its Iranian sponsors:
• “The generation currently standing up to the Zionists, which shaped up the first and second intifadas, included young individuals with lofty aspirations. This generation will liberate Palestine.”
—Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in a meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (Islamic Republic News Agency, Dec. 10, 2006)
• “Resistance is the only solution and the Palestinian government will never recognize Israel.”
—Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in a meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (Agence France Press, Dec. 10, 2006)
• “I have no doubt that one day Palestine will be governed by the Palestinians. … Through struggle and resistance, the return to the Palestinians of all the territory of Palestine, in all of its parts, is possible and one day this will be realized.”
—Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (Agence France Presse, Dec. 10, 2006)
• “The imposed pressures of the Zionist regime against [the] people and government of Palestine will not last long and the U.S., as the most important supporter of the forged regime, is weakening and decaying, and the conspiracies of the enemies of Islam to shatter the resistance of Palestinian people will be defeated.”
—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (Islamic Republic News Agency, Dec. 10, 2006)
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Denying the Holocaust
Iran’s conference questioning the history of the Holocaust sought to undermine international justification for the creation of the modern state of Israel in the aftermath of World War II. Hamas also has a long history of denying this fact and its leaders have backed Ahmadinejad’s past efforts minimize the scope of the Nazi atrocities.
• “If the official version of the Holocaust is thrown into doubt, then the identity and nature of Israel will be thrown into doubt.”
—Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki during the opening session of the Holocaust conference (The Daily Telegraph, Dec. 13. 2006)
• “Based on the facts gained by the team [Iran called for a committee to determine whether the Holocaust happened], if the Holocaust’s truth is ruled out, root causes of problems and crimes in the Middle East region will be terminated.”
—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Islamic Republic News Agency, Dec. 13, 2006)
• “The Muslim public supported Iran on this issue in the past and will also support it in the future.”
— Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal defending statements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denying the Holocaust (Ha’aretz, Dec. 16, 2005)
Pursuing Nuclear Weapons
As Iran continues to call for Israel’s destruction and deny the Holocaust, the Iranian regime continues to defy the international community in its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons. Tehran announced recently that it installed more centrifuges, which can be used to produce highly enriched uranium for nuclear warheads.
• “Resistance of the Iranian nation in the past year forced them to retreat tens of steps over the nuclear issue. … We have started installing 3,000 centrifuges.”
— Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Associated Press, Dec. 9, 2006)
• “Thanks to the grace of God and [the Iranian people’s] resistance, we are on the final stage of the path to the nuclear peak. Not more than one step is left to be taken. By the end of the [Iranian calendar year, which corresponds to the English date of March 20, 2007], we will organize a celebration across the country to mark the stabilization of our nuclear rights.”
—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Associated Press, Dec. 6, 2006)
• “I’m telling you in plain language that as of now on, if you try, whether in your propaganda or at international organizations, to take steps against the rights of the Iranian nation [for nuclear weapons], the Iranian nation will consider it an act of hostility. … And if you insist on pursuing this path, [Iran] will reconsider its relations with you.”
—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Associated Press, Dec. 6, 2006)