Islamic Iran showed its support for the Palestinian cause this month, when the annual conference to mark the anniversary of the death of Imam Khomeini (r.a) was dedicated to the Palestinian intifada. The conference was attended by Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Abdullah Shallah and the leaders of other major Palestinian groups. The opening statement of the conference was made by the Rahbar of the Islamic State, AYATULLAH SAYYID ALI KHAMENEI.
In the name of God, the Compassionate and Merciful
The international conference on Imam Khomeini and Support for Palestine that is being held on the anniversary of the death of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran is a valuable initiative intended to inspire the struggles of the Palestinian people against the occupiers.
The US’s Middle Eastern policies after the Camp David Accords inflicted a heavy blow on the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, leading to the conclusion of the Oslo agreement. These policies were mainly intended to frustrate the spirit of the Palestinian people, and to lead to a gradual elimination of Palestinians from the region. The spirit of Islamic faith and jihad for the sake of Allah has been reawakened, and inspires the Palestinian people to stand firm against the treacherous policies of the world’s arrogant powers. Today the Palestinian people continue to sacrifice their lives in order to build a future beyond the imagination of the enemies and even the friends of Palestine.
What is now going on in Palestine amply demonstrates the imminent unfolding of the future that has been promised by Allah to the faithful and unfaltering mujahideen. The brutal and repressive zionist regime, supported by the US, world zionism and the reactionary crusaders, think wishfully that their criminal behaviour and atrocities will force the Palestinians to surrender. This is a big mistake, and the perpetrators of these crimes will pay for them. The executioners and murderers in Tel Aviv can kill scores of innocent civilians and destroy Palestinian towns, but they have never been able to shake the resolute determination of the Palestinian people. The Intifada of Masjid al-Aqsa is one of the divine signs of punishment for these criminals. The failures of the zionist regime and its accomplice, the United States, have forced them to resort to new tactics to save themselves from plunging further into a quagmire. The new strategy of bringing the Palestinians back to the negotiating table is intended only to divide the Palestinian groups. The zionist regime has proved that it is in no way committed to any agreement or logic. The zionists believe only in the logic of coercion, force, aggression and expansionism. There is no risk of the faithful Palestinians being deceived by the zionist policies.
Today, the governments and the peoples of the Muslim world, particularly the Arab peoples, bear a heavy responsibility towards the Palestinians. The obligation of peoples and individuals, particularly ulama, scholars, political figures, academics and intellectuals, is equally important. We should all mobilise our material and spiritual resources to support the Palestinian people in their jihad.
I pray to Almighty Allah to grant all of us the ability and perseverance to fulfil our obligations.
Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
Sayyid Ali Khamenei,
Tehran, June 2, 2002.