Leader: Referendum key to solution of Palestinian problem
Compiled by our staff writer
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said
on October 1: Referendum is a logical solution to the Palestinian
problem.
The Leader made the remarks in an address to the 5th International
Conference in Support for Palestine’s Intifada held in Tehran.
The Islamic Republic’s proposal to help resolve the Palestinian issue
and heal this old wound is a clear and logical initiative based on
political concepts accepted by world public opinion, which has already
been presented in detail. We do not suggest launching a classic war by
the armies of Muslim countries, or throwing immigrant Jews into the
sea, or mediation by the UN and other international organizations. We
propose holding a referendum with (the participation of) the
Palestinian nation. The Palestinian nation, like any other nation, has
the right to determine their own destiny and elect the governing
system of the country,” the Leader stated.
“This is a fair and logical initiative which the world… will correctly
understand and could enjoy the support of independent nations and
governments,” he said.
“However, we do not expect the occupying Zionists to easily give in to
it,” he added.
“Our demand is the liberation of Palestine, not part of Palestine.”
Any initiative calling for the disintegration of Palestine is rejected
outright, he said.
He added: the entire Palestine belongs to all the Palestinians, adding
that the proposal to establish two states on the occupied Palestinian
territories is completely rejected.
The two-state proposal, which they have been seeking to justify
through the recognition of Palestine as a full member of the United
Nations is nothing but capitulation to the demand of the Zionists,
which is the recognition of a Zionist government on the Palestinian
territory. That would mean trampling on the rights of the Palestinian
nation, ignoring the historic rights of the displaced Palestinians,
and even posing a threat to the rights of Palestinians living in the
1948 lands. That would mean a cancerous tumor would remain and pose a
constant threat to the body of the Islamic ummah, particularly
regional nations. That would mean the repetition of decades of
suffering and trampling upon the blood of martyrs.”
The Leader also stated that Muslim governments shoulder a great
responsibility to withdraw their support of the Zionist regime.
“Governments which host embassies or economic agencies of the Zionists
cannot claim to be supporting Palestine, and no anti-Zionist slogan
chanted by them will be taken seriously,” he said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader said, “Today, the West is at a
crossroads. It should either stop its long-time bullying and recognize
the rights of the Palestinian nation and no longer follow the plans of
the bullying and anti-human Zionists, or await heavier blows in the
not too distant future.”
He also said, “The U.S. president says that the security of Israel is
his red line. What has determined that red line? The interests of the
people of the United States or Obama’s need for the money and support
of Zionist companies to win the next presidential election? How long
will you be able to deceive your people? What will the people of the
United States do with you when they realize you” have bowed to the
demands of the Zionists and sacrificed the interests of the nation?
He added, “The red line set out by Obama and like-minded people will
be crossed by Muslim nations which have risen up. What is posing a
threat to the Zionist regime is not the missiles of Iran or resistance
groups… the real threat, which can never be countered, is the strong
will of men, women, and the youth in Muslim countries, who no longer
want the United States, Europe, and their subservient elements to rule
over them and humiliate them.”
“However, if a threat is posed by the enemy, those missiles will
fulfill their functions,” the Leader concluded.
The 5th International Conference on the Palestinian Intifada was held
with participation of parliamentary delegations headed by dignitaries
including several speakers, leading political figures and scholars
from 50 Islamic and non-Islamic countries as well as leaders of
several Palestinian groups. The two-day conference is focused on the
motto of “Palestine, a land only for Palestinians”.
The motto adopted by the gathering is a reflection of the fact that
Palestinians “are not” in search of a land because they already have
their own one.
Kuwait calls on int’l organizations to observe Palestinians rights
Also speaking at the same conference, Kuwaiti National Assembly
(parliament) Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi, called on international
organizations to observe the legitimate rights and interests of the
Palestinian nation.
He described the conference as a very important event and said the
confab is to back Palestinian Intifada and help Palestinians retake
their motherland.
All Muslims respect holy Qods, he said and invited all countries to
help establish a Palestinian country with the holy Qods as its
capital.
“We do not regard the Qods as a city alone but rather as the first
Qibla of world Muslims,” he said.
The conference aimed to mobilize all official and non-official
capacities in the Islamic world as well as other freedom-loving
countries to support Intifada and back the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people in removing occupation of their homeland, return
homeless Palestinians to their motherland and vindicate the right of
the Palestinians to determine their own destiny.
Larijani: Regional uprisings good chance to back Palestinian cause
Meanwhile, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani cautioned against loosing the
ripe chance of the regional uprisings to support the Palestinian
cause.
He made the remarks in the opening ceremonies of the 5th International
Conference on the Palestinian Intifada.
Describing the present atmosphere of West’s political activities as
“rather deceitful”, he said that the opportunity was now ripe for the
Palestinians thanks to the uprisings in the regional countries.
He stressed that very serious measures should be adopted to avoid the
probable threat of loosing these chances.
Noting that the notion of a unified Ummah and the Islamic brotherhood
was the focal point of the ideals of the founder of the Islamic
Republic in Iran, the Late Imam Khomeini, he said the present
gathering was being held in a pretty sensitive situation.
The Iranian parliament speaker further advised the leaders of regional
countries to use the opportunity of millions-strong presence of their
nations in the scene of uprisings to strengthen resistance rather than
trying to manipulate them to serve their own political benefits.
Larijani also said the conference of political experts and
parliamentary officials and figures from Islamic countries in the
present gathering is a ripe chance for them to explore different
aspects of recent developments in the region.
Iran sends relief cargo to Somalia
A Somali woman stands next to her hut in a camp for famine refugees in
the capital, Mogadishu, August 18, 2011.
Shipments of humanitarian relief aid provided by Iran"s Red Crescent
Society (IRCS) for famine-hit Somalia have been sent to the Horn of
Africa nation.
Several Iranian humanitarian aid cargo have already reached Aden-Adde
International Airport in Somalia"s capital, Mogadishu, IRNA reported.
The 40-ton consignment of humanitarian aid includes rice and legumes.
IRCS Secretary General Zaher Rostami told IRNA that Iran plans to
dispatch seven more shipments of humanitarian aid to Somalia.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei
called on Iranians to rush to the aid of the Muslim people of Somalia.
“These days, the Horn of Africa and particularly the
catastrophe-ridden country of Somalia are witnessing one of the most
painful human crises in which the lives of millions of Somali women
and children are in danger due to drought, famine and the silence of
international organizations,” read a statement by the Leader.
The main part of Iran"s humanitarian aid to Somalia will also be
handed over to the country"s relief organizations.
The United Nations has warned that more than 13 out of every 10,000
children aged less than five die in the Somalia famine zone every day.
"This means that 10 percent of children under five are dying every 11
weeks. These figures are truly heart-wrenching," UN representative to
Somalia Augustine Mahiga said.
The drought and famine have affected more than 11.8 million people
across Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Somalia has been the hardest-hit
country in what is being described as the worst drought in the Horn of
Africa in 60 years.
According to the United Nations, it is estimated that a quarter of
Somalia"s population of 9.9 million are now either internally
displaced or living outside the country as refugees.
The UN has declared famine in five regions in Somalia and said that
the international humanitarian response to the crisis has been
insufficient.
Somali displaced refugees, file photo
Somalia thanks Iran for relief aid
Meanwhile, Somali Minister for Women and Family Affairs Maryan Qasim
Ahmed expressed gratitude to Iran for delivering humanitarian aid to
famine-hit people of Somalia.
The Somali official thanked Iran for helping the famine-stricken
people of Somalia in the harsh conditions facing the African country,
according to an IRNA dispatch.
Although Somalia is going through a severe crisis, the amount of
international aid allocated to the country to solve problems is
insufficient, she said.
The minister pointed out that the number of displaced Somalis rushing
to the capital Mogadishu to settle in camps was increasing day by day
but she did not provide an exact number of the refugees.
Iran has so far dispatched several humanitarian aid convoys to Somalia
as part of an intensifying effort to provide relief for people of the
African country who are grappling with severe famine and drought.
The UN says 3.2 million Somalis, which is almost half the population,
are in need of immediate life-saving assistance.