President Ahmadinejad
(October 5, 2007) In a speech made on the observance of the Islamic-political “Al Quds Day” (i.e. Jerusalem Day), Iran’s President Ahmadinejad stated, “The Palestinian people are standing firm. The Iranian people and other peoples will not stop until all of Palestinian territory is liberated.” (Ahmadinejad in new tirade against Israel) Since there never has been a country created named Palestine, one could interpret his words in different ways. He was apparently misinterpreted in a 2005 speech where the media claimed he said, “Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map and this was a very wise statement.” The phrase “wiped off the map” was trumpeted around the world and Internet in news stories. Since then others have claimed that the translation of the speech was incorrect and should have read “‘This regime that is occupying Qods [Jerusalem] must be eliminated from the pages of history.’ This sentence is very wise.” Their reason for pointing out this clarification is to resist the apparent momentum in parts of the U.S. and world to attack Iran. The same analysis of his Al Quds Day speech could possibly lead to a seeming misinterpretation of his words again. Is Ahmadinejad referring to not only “liberating” the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Israeli hands but also the rest of Israel? It is historically noteworthy that Arab League formed the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1964. At that time the Arabs had control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. It wasn’t until three years later in the 1967 Six Days War that Israel gained control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. This then begs the question, “What part of Palestine were the Arabs trying to liberate in 1964?” If President Ahmadinejad’s intentions toward Israel are not aggressive then he should make that clear. Instead his ambiguity could lead to disaster as recent events have made clear. The Bible does declare that one day an alliance between Iran and its neighboring countries will indeed invade the land of Israel. The results for this alliance will be devastating. Only God knows the timing for this event and whether the current regime in Iran will participate in it.
