Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., September 28, 2008 Elul 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:35 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 07:21 27/09/2008
Iranians chant 'death to Israel', unveil book mocking Holocaust at Al-Quds Day rally
By News Agencies
Tags: Holocaust, Iran, Al-Quds Day

Iranian protesters chanted "Death to Israel" as a group of Islamist students unveiled a book mocking the Holocaust in an annual Al-Quds Day rally on Friday, the French news agency AFP reported.

Day of Al-Quds, the Arabic term for Jerusalem, is marked by Shiite Muslims on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan to show support for the Palestinians and emphasize the importance of Jerusalem to the Muslims.

The book "Holocaust", published by members of the Islamist Basij militia, features dozens of cartoons and sarcastic commentary.
Advertisement
Iran's Education Minister Alireza Ali-Ahmadi was present in the capital's Palestine Square for the presentation of the book.

According to the news agency, the cover shows a Jew with a crooked nose and dressed in traditional garb drawing outlines of dead bodies on the ground.

Inside, bearded Jews are shown leaving and re-entering a gas chamber with a counter that reads the number 5,999,999.

A former Iranian president warned the West on Friday that its support for Israel would backfire as hundreds of thousands of people staged rallies in support of Muslim claims to the holy city of Jerusalem.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is still considered influential in Iranian politics, said the U.S., Britain and France back Israel - and this is dangerous.

"They will put themselves in trouble, eventually," Rafsanjani said during a Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran marking Al-Quds Day - the Arabic word for Jerusalem.

"Israel could take tougher and more offensive action than the United States against Iran and the Arab world," warned Rafsanjani, who is the head of a powerful clerical body that has the ability to appoint and dismiss the country's supreme leader.

State-run television also aired clips on Friday featuring hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York. The president, who is in the U.S. for the opening of the United Nations 63rd General Assembly, said Israel does not have support among ordinary people in the United States.

He also chided hundreds of demonstrators who protested against his address before the General Assembly, which many have described as blatantly anti-Israel.

"It was a big failure for them," Ahmadinejad said.

The latest anti-Israel remarks made by Iranian leaders come as hundreds of thousands rallied in cities across the country to protest Israel's continued hold on Jerusalem, the city where Muslims believe Islam's Prophet Mohammed began his journey to heaven.

In Tehran, demonstrators chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" to commemorate day of Al-Quds. Some protesters also burned American and Israeli flags.

Jerusalem is the third holiest city in Islam after the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca and Medina.

Tehran's Jewish community also participated in the rally according to a statement by the Tehran Central Jewish Committee, a copy of which was made available to The Associated Press.

State television reported similar large rallies in all other provincial capitals and smaller towns across the country.

Rallies were also held in the Syrian capital of Damascus and the Lebanese capital Beirut to mark Al-Quds.

More than 3,000 people gathered at the Yarmouk refugee camp carrying Palestinian flags and anti-Israeli banners. The rally was attended by several officials from Syria-based Palestinian factions such as Ahmed Jibril, the secretary-general of the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General-Command.

"This day is a day of popular anger in the Arab and Islamic nations. It is directed toward all those who are colluding against Palestine and Jerusalem," Jibril said in an apparent reference to Arab nations that have relations with Israel. "Jerusalem is being destroyed and Judaized every day while Israeli flags fly in their capitals."

Another official, Ziad Nakhale of the Islamic Jihad group, said: "Jerusalem is holy for Muslims and we call all Muslims around the world to liberate it."

Twelve-year-old Mohammed Kheir, who took part in the rally while wearing a camouflage uniform, said he will never forget Jerusalem.

"Palestine is ours and it is the most valuable thing for me. We will never forget it. This is what my father taught us," the boy said.

Related articles:
  • Despite UN speech, Jews dine with Ahmadinejad in New York
  • Israel and Azerbaijan close multi-million dollar arms deal
  • Ahmadinejad: Iran will support Hamas until collapse of Israel
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Fighting words
    Nasrallah: Jerusalem and Palestine will soon be returned to rightful owners.
    Paul Newman dies
    'Exodus' star and legendary actor Paul Newman succumbs to cancer at age 83.
      1.   Sick scum 18:12  |  judith 26/09/08
      2.   Iranian Swelling Pride Only Serves To Accomodate ... 18:22  |  Lavi 26/09/08
      3.   Now I understand-today`s Rabbi Zolli 18:34  |  Arie 26/09/08
      4.   Iran about to be gone forever. 18:55  |  leo 26/09/08
      5.   these sick muslims act like 3 year old children 19:36  |  terrornator 26/09/08
      6.   Al Quds Day Rally- 3rd Holy City? 19:42  |  Joel 26/09/08
      7.   Disgusting, shameful, aweful...... 19:44  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/09/08
      8.   A Couple Of Things I Learned Growing Up 20:16  |  Yosemite 26/09/08
      9.   Ridiculous 20:50  |  Victoria 26/09/08
      10.   Would be childish of them if it weren`t for the nukes 22:07  |  x-ray 26/09/08
      11.   to Victoria, #9 22:30  |  Ahmed 26/09/08
      12.   Rage and action is tempting but stay cool Israel 22:31  |  Mark B. 26/09/08
      13.   #1 W 22:56  |  Moshe 26/09/08
      14.   #!!!! 1 23:00  |  Belle 26/09/08
      15.   Their hates to non Jews will bring self-destructions to themselve 23:50  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 26/09/08
      16.   Soon Tehran will be liberated...for all Iranians. 23:58  |  Stephen. 26/09/08
      17.   Dershowitz 01:10  |  W 27/09/08
      18.   To #12 01:13  |  Kathy 27/09/08
      19.   THE `GOOD MUSLIM MAJORITY`. 03:43  |  IamJOSEPH 27/09/08
      20.   hahaha 04:30  |  spectator 27/09/08
      21.   Bla Bla Bla 04:47  |  John 27/09/08
      22.   Sub-animals 08:28  |  R 27/09/08
      23.   Islamic interest in the Temple Mount starts in 1967. 08:45  |  Jean Van Daem 27/09/08
      24.   where are the posters for peace and a bi national state 09:06  |  victor hardman 27/09/08
      25.   It was a one-night stand 09:13  |  utagawa 27/09/08
      26.   Bad karma 09:17  |  sc 27/09/08
      27.   CAN`T wait for the apologists or the deafenning silence 15:07  |  PETER SM 27/09/08
      28.   #25 Peter SM 15:37  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/09/08
      29.   Re: Dershowitz #17 15:50  |  Dan 27/09/08
      30.   Ahmed 16:00  |  Victoria 27/09/08
      31.   islamic moderates 16:07  |  londoner432 27/09/08
      32.   SWISS.Time to buy more gas from them. 16:10  |  PETER SM 27/09/08
      33.   finklestein was scared to back his own delusions on dershwitz 16:19  |  Torquemada 27/09/08
      34.   Jerusalem the golden 16:31  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/09/08
      35.   AHMED I say you turn your backsides to Jerusalem when you pray 16:46  |  PETER SM 27/09/08
      36.   Re #25 utagawa "It was a one-night stand" cont. 00:17  |  Astasheiks 28/09/08
     Read & React
    Report: U.S. said no to Israeli strike on Iran
    Responses: 208
    Leftist prof.: Bomb attack shows settler violence spilling over Green Line
    Responses: 123
    Survey: American Jews favor Obama over McCain
    Responses: 106
    Mossad chief fights Iran nuclear program his own way
    Responses: 51
    Nasrallah: Return of Jerusalem and Palestine isn't far
    Responses: 138


    More Headlines
    01:03 Sec. Council demands Iran halt enrichment, reaffirms old sanctions
    23:46 Livni and Mofaz speak for first time since Kadima primary
    00:08 17 killed in massive car bombing in Damascus
    01:09 ANALYSIS / Damascus bomb is latest event to shake Syrian security
    23:58 Syrian FM: Peace negotiations with Israel stalled
    22:46 Legendary actor Paul Newman dies after struggle with cancer
    11:42 Israel's unseeded Dudi Sela reaches finals of China Open
    16:37 Nablus man attempts to kill mother-in-law with poisoned sweets
    03:44 Nasrallah: Return of Jerusalem and Palestine closer than ever
    20:12 In first debate, Obama and McCain trade blows over Iran policy, Iraq war
    03:53 Palin: We mustn't send Iran message U.S. would allow second Holocaust
    23:20 German FM: Ahmadinejad's UN speech 'blatant anti-Semitism'
    00:00 Palestinians attack settlers visiting the Tomb of the Patriarchs
    01:22 Fire destroys main hall of Egypt's National Theater
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
    and get all your money back
    US CITIZENS
    Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved