Britannia Radio

Islamic “peace” and Israel are mutually exclusive.

By Ted Belman (written in Oct ‘07)

On October 26, 2005, Ahmadinejad gave a speech to the “World Without Zionism” conference in Iran. The New York Times’ published a full transcript of the speech in which Ahmadinejad was quoted in part as follows:

Our dear Imam (referring to Ayatollah Khomeini) said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map and this was a very wise statement. We cannot compromise over the issue of Palestine. Is it possible to create a new front in the heart of an old front. This would be a defeat and whoever accepts the legitimacy of this regime has in fact, signed the defeat of the Islamic world. Our dear Imam targeted the heart of the world oppressor in his struggle, meaning the occupying regime. I have no doubt that the new wave that has started in Palestine, and we witness it in the Islamic world too, will eliminate this disgraceful stain from the Islamic world.

Iran Broadcasting on its English-language website filed a story entitled: Ahmadinejad: Israel must be wiped off the map,

Ahmadinejad also claimed in the speech that the issue with Palestine would be over

“the day that all refugees return to their homes a democratic government elected by the people comes to power”, and denounced attempts to normalise relations with Israel, condemning all Muslim leaders who accept the existence of Israel as “acknowledging a surrender and defeat of the Islamic world.“

There is an attempt in certain quarters to argue that he didn’t mean that all Jews should be killed but that Israel should be removed as a political entity. I want to focus on the latter.

It is not only Iran that takes this uncompromising stand but also Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Mecca and Medina, and all Arab countries in their orbit, do also.

Fatah’s Constitution states

Article (12)
Complete liberation of Palestine, and eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence.

Hamas’ Charter is a religious affirmation of the following principle

Article Eleven
The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine has been an Islamic Waqf throughout the generations and until the Day of Resurrection, no one can renounce it or part of it, or abandon it or part of it. No Arab country nor the aggregate of all Arab countries, and no Arab King or President nor all of them in the aggregate, have the right, nor has that right any organization or the aggregate of all organizations , be they Palestinian or Arab, because Palestine is an Islamic Waqf throughout all generations and to the Day of Resurrection.

Do not think for a moment that Saudi Arabia doesn’t agree with all these articulations. That’s why it wants to unify Fatah and Hamas. They all have the same goal. And remember, “Palestine” includes Israel.

When Ahmedinejad spoke at Columbia he said,

“And my second question, well, given this historical event, if it is a reality, we need to still question whether the Palestinian people should be paying for it or not. After all, it happened in Europe. The Palestinian people had no role to play in it. So why is it that the Palestinian people are paying the price of an event they had nothing to do with? [The Balfour declaration preceded the Holocaust by 24 years.] The Palestinian people didn’t commit any crime. They had no role to play in World War II. They were living with the Jewish communities and the Christian communities in peace at the time. They didn’t have any problems. [They attacked Jews throughout the 24 years.]

And today, too, Jews, Christians and Muslims live in brotherhood all over the world in many parts of the world. They don’t have any serious problems.

But why is it that the Palestinians should pay a price, innocent Palestinians, for 5 million people to remain displaced or refugees abroad for 60 years. Is this not a crime? Is asking about these crimes a crime by itself?

So our proposal to the Palestinian plight is a humanitarian and democratic proposal. What we say is that to solve this 60-year problem, we must allow the Palestinian people to decide about its future for itself.

This is compatible with the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and the fundamental principles enshrined in it. We must allow Jewish Palestinians, Muslim Palestinians and Christian Palestinians to determine their own fate themselves through a free referendum.

Essentially he is saying that the creation of Israel should be undone and that the nation of Palestine including Jews, Muslims and Christians must decide by democratic vote. Of course he includes all Palestinian refugees throughout the ME in such a referendum, knowing full well that the Arabs would outnumber the Jews and thus Palestine, which for Muslims has always included Israel, would replace Israel as the political entity.

Now, when Saudi Arabia or Muslims in general offer “peace”, we must understand what they mean. According to About.com

Critics and observers must not forget, though, that “peace” here is inextricably intertwined with “submission” and “surrender” — specifically to the will, desires, and commands of Allah, but of course also to those who set themselves up as the transmitters, interpreters, and teachers in Islam. Peace is thus not something achieved through mutual respect, compromise, love, or anything similar. Peace is something that exists as a consequence of and in the context of submission or surrender.

This is an excellent rendition of what Islam holds forth.

Thus “peace” and Israel are mutually exclusive.

CONTINUE

Ted Belman

Jerusalem