Imam Khamenei: Iran to Keep Helping Palestinians against ‘Israel’, It Is the Duty of the Muslim World

By Staff, Agencies

Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei stressed that Tehran will keep helping the Palestinians with no reservation, and called on other Muslim countries to follow suit.

Speaking in a Friday meeting with the ambassadors of Muslim countries and participants of the 33rd Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Imam Khamenei said Iran’s stance on the issue of Palestine is a principled and definitive one.

"Since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution to this day, we have remained in this position - meaning we have helped and will continue to help Palestine and the Palestinians without any consideration and we view this the duty of the whole Islamic world," his eminence said.

Imam Khamenei touched on the enemies’ efforts to distort pronouncements by the late Father of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini and Iranian officials about the elimination of ‘Israel’.

“We are in favor of Palestine and its independence and salvation, but the elimination of ‘Israel’ does not mean the elimination of the Jewish people, because we have nothing to do with them, as a number of Jews live safely in our country.

“The elimination of ‘Israel’ means the elimination of the fake Zionist regime and that the Palestinian people, be they Muslim, Christian or Jewish who are the main owners of that land, should be able to choose their government," Imam Khamenei said.

They should be able to "drive out outsiders and thugs like [‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and run their country, which of course this will happen," his eminence added.

Imam Khamenei described the issue of Palestine as the biggest plight of the Muslim world which has displaced a nation from its home, and underlined the significance of unity among Muslim nations in resolving the issue.

“Had Muslim countries maintained even the minimum levels of unity, we would not have so many plights in the Muslim world today,” the Leader said.

The Leader's meeting with the guests of the Islamic Unity Conference was held on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his great grandson Imam Sadiq, the sixth Imam of Shia Muslims.

The 33rd edition of the International Islamic Unity Conference was inaugurated by President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday.

Organized by the Iranian-based World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, the three-day event aims to establish unity and synergy among Muslims.

Addressing the opening ceremony, President Rouhani said the only profiteers of division among Muslims are the foreign actors in the region.

“Ummah Unity in Defense of al-Aqsa Mosque” is this year’s theme of the conference. This is the second consecutive year that Palestine has become the focus of the Unity Conference.