Rabbonim and community heads in Iran were forced to participate in
mass demonstrations against Israel which took place on Friday in
the major cities throughout the country. The demonstrations marked
the El Kuds Day commemorated in several Moslem countries as a
protest calling for the liberty of Jerusalem from the hands of
Zionist capture.
Representatives of the Jewish community had to attend the
demonstrations in Teheran, the capital, as well as in Isfahan,
Shiraz, Bushhar and other cities. In Bushhar, Rav Ynnes Hamami
Lalhazar attended a rally of Moslem leaders which highlighted the
"continuing suppression of the Palestinians in Gaza and the
western border."
In Teheran, the Jewish representative in the Iranian parliament,
Dr. Humyan Samayech, was interviewed by the media, to clarify the
position of Iranian Jewry. He argued that "the State of Israel is
not connected to Judaism but is a political entity." He added that
the Zionists must indeed liberate Jerusalem and return it to the
Palestinians. Out of responsibility for the welfare of his
community, he called upon the Jews of Iran to attend the
demonstrations and express their support of the Iranian
government.
"It is important to emphasize the difference between Judaism and
Zionism," Dr. Samayech said to the press. "We, as Iranian Jews,
oppose Zionist activities and support the rights of Palestinians
to a sovereign county with a capital in El Kuds."
The Jewish community in Iran is one of the most ancient in the
world with a history dating back over 2,700 years. It is estimated
today as numbering between 8,000 and 15,000 Jews, mainly living in
Teheran, Isfahan and Shiraz. It is officially recognized by
Iranian law and represented in its parliament.
Its status in Iran is distinguished: on the one side, it enjoys
government protection and a certain freedom of religion, while on
the other hand, it works in the framework of a country declaring a
basic opposition to Israel. Due to this, a public declaration from
the Jewish community from time to time must reflect the official
policy of the Iranian government in issues connected to Israel.
"Yom El Kuds — Jerusalem Day" has been designated by Iran
since the Islamic revolution of 1979, initiated by Khomeini, as a
day of identification with the Palestinians and as a protest
against the State of Israel. It is usually commemorated on the
last Friday of Ramadan and accompanies by mass demonstrations and
incendiary speeches against Israel.
