Iran's
Tirade Against Israel
(Signs of the Time - December 2005)
In spite of the “roadmap for peace” and other efforts at peace in the Middle East, nations of the area remain determined to wipe Israel off the map.
Iran’s latest declarations
As reported in the New York Times on October 27, 2005, Iran’s new
president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, told a group of students at an anti-Israeli
event Israel, “must be wiped off the map” and that
“attacks by Palestinians would destroy it.” He declared
the issue of a Palestinian state would be resolved only when Palestinians
took control of all their lands. With further elaboration of his comments
he indicated that: “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.”
He then made reference to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the
Islamic revolution. Ahmadinejad said, “As the imam said, Israel
must be wiped off the map.” In excerpts taken from his speech,
he made comparisons to the difficult task of eliminating Israel to the
improbable thought of the Berlin wall being razed and the dictator of
Iraq being captured. If both of these previously unthinkable and improbable
events could happen during his lifetime, then it would be with certainty
that Israel could be eliminated.
The most revealing aspect of his speech and his intent can be seen from
the following: “For over 50 years the world oppressor tried
to give legitimacy to the occupying regime and it has taken measures in
this direction to stabilize it. About 27 or 28 years ago they took a major
step and unfortunately one of the leading countries made a mistake which
we hope to correct.” This is an apparent reference to the peace
treaty between Egypt and Israel.
The new President’s tone was reminiscent of the early days of Iran’s
Islamic revolution in 1979. During that time, the revolutionary government
went out of its way to encourage their citizens to fight against the Zionist
power. However, during the past 20 years officials from Iran have avoided
using provocative language against Israel. It therefore seems remarkable
that Mr. Ahmadinejad has changed course and is now taking a more confrontational
approach.
In less than a year, the entire tone and political leanings of Iran have
shifted from a moderate nation to one intent on destroying a neighboring
nation. In February, 2005, during the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the
then Iranian President Khatami not only sat in close proximity to Israel’s
president he also shook hands and chatted briefly with him in his native
tongue of Farsi. As well, President Khatami had proposed a dialogue among
civilizations and pursued a policy of détente with Israel.
Israel’s response
As one might appreciate, Israel was quick to respond to the words of the
new Iranian President. A spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry,
said, “Unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve
seen such extreme statements from senior Iranian leaders," adding,
“We see today that there is a growing understanding in the international
community that the extremist regime in Tehran is not just Israel’s
problem, but rather an issue that the entire international community must
grapple with.”
Israel did the smart thing and took the comments of the Iranian president
and extrapolated them so that they encompassed the rest of the world.
And indeed the folks in Washington were quick to jump into the fray by
indicating in a press statement that: the remarks reconfirmed “what
we have been saying about this particular regime in Iran.” “I
think that it only serves to underscore our concern, as well as the international
community’s concern, about Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.”
In this war of words, Mr. Ahmadinejad countered by calling Israel’s
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip a trick, and saying that Gaza was part
of Palestinian territories and the withdrawal was aimed at persuading
Islamic nations to acknowledge Israel. He continued, “Anybody
who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation’s
fury.” He added that any Islamic leader “who recognizes
the Zionist regime means he is acknowledging the surrender and defeat
of the Islamic world.”
With the northern host
We are told specifically that ancient Persia (modern day Iran) will be
part of a contingent of nations who rise up against Israel and attempt
to overthrow the nation. Israel will be brought to her knees before the
Lord comes to her rescue. The news of this day indicates that the nations
are lining up in accordance with God’s plan and purpose. Those nations
opposed to Israel on one side, and those in support on the other. Let
us pray the time of “Jacob’s trouble” will
come quickly and soon be over.
George Rayner