Iran's VP: Supreme Leader Khamenei right about friendship with Israel

by rahul | September 20, 2008 at 09:13 am

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Putting an end to local controversy over friendship with the State of Israel, one of Iran's vice presidents Esfandiar Rahim Mashai retracted remarks he made in mid July that Iranians were «friends» even with the Israeli people. This public rectification follows statements made by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Friday. Khamenei said it was «illogical» for Iranians to be friends with Israelis. He refered to the continuing support of Iran to the Palestinian cause for land but also made a clear distinction among Israelis that support Zionism and the Jewish community. During the congregational prayer, the Supreme leader stated that "the Iranian nation has nothing against Jews, Christians or followers of faith. However, it is mistaken to say that we are friends with the people of Israel in the same manner as we are friends with other people around the world, because they have collaborated with Zionist officials in seizing the land, property, and possessions of the Palestinian nation". Iran hosts an active and old Jewish community. Unlike some of its Eruopean members, it is directly related to the very origins of Judaism with record of family offsprings duly registered at Jerusalem. The Remarks made by Mashaei were used by both Conservative and Reformist enemies of Ahmadinejad to criticise his policies and foreign policy amid the coming presidential elections due in June 2009.

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:58:23 GMT Iranian Vice President Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei has expressed his support for Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks on Iran's stance toward Israel. "I hereby announce that I fully support your position on the issue of [friendship with] the Israeli people," Rahim-Mashaei wrote in a Friday letter to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. "The position that I have always taken is that Palestinians must continue to fight for their rights and the return of their land," he added. Earlier, media outlets had quoted Rahim-Mashaei as saying that the Iranian nation is friends with 'the Israeli nation.' Rahim-Mashaei's words triggered uproar in Iran. He later distanced himself from that position and said that his comments had been misinterpreted. However, Ayatollah Khamenei put an end to the upheaval during Friday congregational prayer by rejecting the notion that Iran was a friend of the Israeli people. "The Iranian nation has nothing against Jews, Christians or followers of faith. However, it is mistaken to say that we are friends with the people of Israel in the same manner as we are friends with other people around the world, because they have collaborated with Zionist officials in seizing the land, property, and possessions of the Palestinian nation," said the Leader. "This firm position is the official stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Ayatollah Khamenei added. Although Mashie's words were mistaken, it was wrong to prolong discussion over the matter, the leader concluded. MJ/JG/DT. Original source at PressTV.