Ahmadinejad accepts Israel's right to exist

Ahmadinejad accepts Israel's right to exist

Ahmadinejad accepts Israel's right to exist

Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has made a remarkable announcement. He's admitted that Iran might agree to the existence of the state of Israel.

(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit on 1-10-2008 by Bunch]

He is quoted as saying:

If they [the Palestinians] want to keep the Zionists, they can stay ... Whatever the people decide, we will respect it. I mean, it's very much in correspondence with our proposal to allow Palestinian people to decide through free referendums

Frankly I dont know what to think by these comment, Ahmadinejad is prone to be misquoted or mistranslated all the time so who know really what he said, but if this comment if verifiable is then a stunning developement, the kind that could take the peace process in the right direction.

Of course with the Iranian situation at hand they have to be very careful in the way they present themselves now in order not to exacerbate further tension but I truly hope this comment is genuine and it leads to something useful.

www.guardian.co.uk...
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 1-10-2008 by Bunch]

Mods can you please fix the external source link on the Breaking Alt news page, I got to fix the one on this thread but can't fix that one.

As far as I know, he has always held this position (in that it's up to the Palestinian people to decide).

That Israel does or doesn't have a right to exist has always been the first hurdle regarding any kind of relationship with Israel and its neighbours.

I'd like to think that Ahmadinejad actually believes this as, ultimately, he is an opinion-leader and his views will have some influence, even if not everyone agrees with him. Whether or not he actually does, none of us have anyway of knowing - apart from the mind-reading Indigo Children who post here of course - it maybe a way of claiming his hands are actually tied as, knowing the West loves at least the idea of democracy (although rarely exercising themselves), by saying it's 'up to the people' removes him personally from any responsibility.

The issue of other ME states accepting Israels right to exist has always been brought up as a smokescreen to deflect attention away from Israels refusal to accept a Palestinian state.
Using this as an excuse, Israel has continued to grab Palestinian land and evict, by force, the owners. As Israel continues it's programme of resettling Jews from around the world, it needs more land and resources, hence the continued expulsion of the Palestinian people. A simple study of maps of Israel (I believe some of the UN maps are available online), showing the increase in Israeli occupied land versus Palestinian land over the last few decades illustrates the point quite well.

Unfortunately, the almost day to day land grabs and persecution of the Palestinians goes unreported by the western media. So too are the many UN resolutions against Israel that they simply choose to ignore.

I believe the Iranian position has always been an acceptance of an Israeli state, but not at the cost of the Palestinian people and the heavy price they are paying in lives and land. Like many others, the Iranians are against the brutal and bigoted Zionist element, NOT the ordinary Jewish followers who, after all, are also present in Iran.

I was just coming to post this.

I'm surprised at how little media attention it's getting, since it seems to mark a major shift in Iran's attitude towards Israel.

Xmotex,

I don't think it's getting much media attention because if they start portraying him as 'Mr Nice Guy' it's not likely anyone will be able to justify an attack on Iran. He's trying to stop an attack on his country - whether he's genuine, or not, who knows? Who knows anyone in politics that is 100% genuine?

Originally posted by Navieko
As far as I know, he has always held this position (in that it's up to the Palestinian people to decide).

He has always held this position. This is not new news this is just more people looking beyond the catch phrases and looking at EVERYTHING he says. Its amazing how much of this guys speeches the government and media happens to leave out. He said this same thing in his interviews with Brian Williams and Larry King but yet the media spins it. Disgusting.

reply to post by xmotex


Yeah.

This financial crisis has tuned out everything else, any other day this would have been hot news.

reply to post by mybigunit


I once watch an interview he gave in 60 minutes and he was ask about this very same topic and he refuse to acknowledge that the Palestinian would vote in favor of co-existing with Israel.

He was pressed by the 60 minutes reporter about "what if" and he refused to answer the question, so I'm not sure that he has held this vision all along, I think its a new shift on his position.

reply to post by mybigunit


I once watch an interview he gave in 60 minutes and he was ask about this very same topic and he refuse to acknowledge that the Palestinian would vote in favor of co-existing with Israel.

He was pressed by the 60 minutes reporter about "what if" and he refused to answer the question, so I'm not sure that he has held this vision all along, I think its a new shift on his position.

If I find the video I will post it.

Edit to add: Found the transcript

(CBS) PELLEY: Mr. President, you say you love all nations. I have to assume that includes the Nation of Israel.

AHMADINEJAD: Israel is not a nation. Well, we like the people, yes, because they are victims as well. They used to live in their own countries, in their own cities. They were given empty promises, false promises. They said that we are going to give you jobs, we are going to give you security. And they pushed the local Palestinian people out and made them refugees and also made refugees of another community. In other words, from thousands of miles away, people have been emigrating to this country and they are living in fear every day. And we feel for them. Last year in my speech I said that the Zionist entity should open the borders and the gates. Let the people decide where they want to go and settle. They are good people as well. We have no bones to pick with them. We are against terrorism. We are against wrong policies. We are friends with all people, Jewish people, Christians, different people of different faiths. We are, well, we're in contact with them. Here in Iran there are Jewish communities; there are Christian communities; we're all friends. Also, non-Muslim countries, we help them when a natural, let's say, calamity breaks. We love all people. We are opposed to Zionism, occupation, terrorism, dropping bombs on behalf of people when they are inside their own homes, killing men, women, and children. Very openly I have said time and again that I oppose these.

PELLEY: If the Palestinians reach an agreement with Israel for a two-state solution, will you then recognize Israel as well?

AHMADINEJAD: Well, the decision rests with the Palestinian people. This is exactly what I'm saying.

PELLEY: What would you do, sir?

AHMADINEJAD: What I'm saying is that you should allow -- oh, please, let me finish my thought. What we are saying, our solution for Palestine is a humane one. We are saying that you should allow the Palestinian people to participate in a fair and free election and determine their own fate. Whatever decision they take, everyone should go with that.

PELLEY: And if that decision . . .

AHMADINEJAD: No other party must interfere. We are not telling the Palestinian people what decisions they should take. Let them make their own decision. Whatever decision they take, we will go for that.

PELLEY: And if that decision is a two-state solution, you're good with that? You could support a two-state solution?

AHMADINEJAD: Well, why are you prejudging what will happen? Let's pave the ground first for a free and fair choice. And once they make their choice, we must respect that. All the people, all the Palestinian people must be given this opportunity, allow them to make their own decisions. Let us not tell them what course of action they need to take.

www.cbsnews.com...
[edit on 1-10-2008 by Bunch]

[edit on 1-10-2008 by Bunch]