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Iranian protesters burning an effigy representing Israel and U.S. during Al-Quds Day rallies in Tehran Friday. (AP)
Last update - 15:59 05/10/2007
Ahmadinejad calls Israel 'insult to human dignity' on Al-Quds Day
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel, Ahmadinejad, Iran 

Millions of Iranians attended nationwide rallies Friday in support of the Palestinians, while the country's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel's continued existence was an insult to human dignity.

"The creation, continued existence and unlimited (Western) support for this regime is an insult to human dignity," Ahmadinejad said. "The occupation of Palestine is not limited to one land. The Zionist issue is now a global issue."

Ahmadinejad's remarks came as millions of Iranians held rallies across Iran to protest Israel's continued hold on Jerusalem, the city where Muslims believe Islam's Prophet Muhammad began his journey to heaven.
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The demonstrations for Al-Quds Day - Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem - also spilled over into anti-American protests because of U.S. support for Israel.

In the capital Tehran, hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets as they chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". Some protesters also burned American and Israeli flags.

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

Ahmadinejad is known for his Israel-lashing comments who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map. He has also called the Nazi Holocaust a myth used as a pretext for carving out a Jewish state in the heart of the Muslim world after the World War II.

The Iranian president once again said Palestinians should not pay any price because Europeans committed crimes against Jews in World War II. He accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians and said the West should give a part of its own land in Europe or Alaska so that the Jews can establish their country.

"I ask European governments supporting Zionists and the American people: will you allow occupation of part of your land under a pretext and then talk about a two-state solution?" Ahmadinejad said after the rallies.

"Iran condemns fabricating such a pretext (the Holocaust) for the Zionist regime to commit genocide against the Palestinian nation and occupy Palestine," Ahmadinejad said.

"The Iranian nation and countries in the region will not rest until Palestine is free and criminals punished," he continued.

Ahmadinejad said a free referendum was the solution to the Palestinian issue, saying Jews, Muslims and Christians as well as five million Palestinian refugees should take part in a vote to determine their own fate.

Ayatollah Mahould Hashemi Shahroudi, Iran's judiciary chief, said Friday's rallies was a good start for the destruction of Israel.

Parliamentary speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel said the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands was a blatant oppression and warned that the relationship between the Islamic world and the West won't improve as long as Palestinians are not allowed to determine their fate in a referendum.

Since the Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran has observed the last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan as Al-Quds Day, as a way of expressing support to the Palestinians and emphasizing the importance of Jerusalem to Muslims.

In the Syrian capital of Damascus, more than 3,000 people carrying flags of the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group marched Friday through the city's Yarmouk refugee camp to mark the day.

"Palestine is ours, from the sea to the river," read a banner referring to the Jordan river and the Mediterranean where British-mandate Palestinian's border used to be before Israel's creation in 1948. "Defending Palestine is a national and religious duty," read another.

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



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  1.   insult- Arab and Muslim voices and reaction? 13:17  |  Jacob 05/10/07
  2.   He Loves The Attention 13:21  |  dyinglikeflies 05/10/07
  3.   It is only an insult to their religion of DECEPTION 13:27  |  Pray FOR them 05/10/07
  4.   Mahmoud Ahmadinejad bringing curses upon his people. 13:38  |  Lord free the people 05/10/07
  5.   "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" 13:45  |  Not easy...necessary 05/10/07
  6.   Hypocrisy and obfuscation 13:50  |  utagawa 05/10/07
  7.   iran 13:54  |  name withheld 05/10/07
  8.   This satanist must perish, and it soon 13:57  |  Johnny 05/10/07
  9.   Jerusalem mentioned hundreds of times in old testament but 14:02  |  Maria 05/10/07
  10.   Amadinejad was misquoted again! 14:06  |  Murray of Montreal 05/10/07
  11.   Iran`s leader is good for Israel 14:09  |  Eirik 05/10/07
  12.   60% of israeli jews from muslim countries 14:09  |  Rich 05/10/07
  13.   Iran - World with clues? 14:10  |  D 05/10/07
  14.   Send Beillin to him,it can`t be he considers also him an insult 14:11  |  Absolute Sweden 05/10/07
  15.   Article full of old lies 14:11  |  David James Vickery 05/10/07
  16.   THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 14:16  |  Brant 05/10/07
  17.   now is the time 14:17  |  matan 05/10/07
  18.   I`m looking forward to 10th October 14:17  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/10/07
  19.   David James Vickery 14:26  |  Nik Miller 05/10/07
  20.   response to "iran" 14:28  |  iii--rachel 05/10/07
  21.   To Vickery- Who Cares? 14:29  |  dyinglikeflies 05/10/07
  22.   A Sick Misguided Maggot 14:30  |  Bill Foonman 05/10/07
  23.   to "dyinglikeflies" 14:32  |  iii 05/10/07
  24.   Ahmadinijad, Pervert 14:36  |  Ky 05/10/07
  25.   Why all the time Israel? 14:37  |  Stan 05/10/07
  26.   David James vickery 14:37  |  DJ 05/10/07
  27.   Him 14:39  |  Jack 05/10/07
  28.   #7 Iran - let`s hope together for no more war 14:42  |  D 05/10/07
  29.   #15 David James Vickery, TELL THE TRUTH FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE! 14:46  |  Murray of Montreal 05/10/07
  30.   #12, Rich 14:49  |  Hannah 05/10/07
  31.   Rancid little worm 14:50  |  Tess 05/10/07
  32.   he loves the sound of his own voice 14:55  |  zionist forever 05/10/07
  33.   `insult to human dignity` 14:58  |  Dexter 05/10/07
  34.   He`s forgiving to common Israelis 14:59  |  Victor 05/10/07
  35.   Very hard (Second attempt) 15:05  |  Nik MIller 05/10/07
  36.   how reminiscent of the 1930,s when a small man with a mustache 15:11  |  victor hardman 05/10/07
  37.   Crazy Hannah Alert (aka SnottyNose),#30,31 15:12  |  Hannah 05/10/07
  38.   Ahh, Aren`t Those Iranians So Cute And Lovable? 15:13  |  Tony Anthony 05/10/07
  39.   AhMADinejad Has It All Wrong 15:15  |  Shepherd 05/10/07
  40.   Nothing New 15:23  |  CHGODMK 05/10/07
  41.   re#1 Endorsing Jacob !Muslim countries support d new Adolph?3rd 15:24  |  Alberto Cohen 05/10/07
  42.   Achmedinijad the Playground Bully 15:28  |  Tzfonit 05/10/07
  43.   # 18 Someone, Please Put Chris Back In His Padded Cell 15:32  |  Tony Anthony 05/10/07
  44.   to David James Vickery#15(2 try) 15:33  |  Ilya 05/10/07
  45.   Iran will finish Israel 15:34  |  John 05/10/07
  46.   you are correct, brant 15:40  |  greg diamond 05/10/07
  47.   where are those "free" elections to be held? 15:42  |  inisrael 05/10/07
  48.   Make Ahmadinejad Explain Away Al - Husseini 15:44  |  GZLives 05/10/07
  49.   insult..? not as yet 15:46  |  ravi 05/10/07
  50.   Mahmoud`s Greatest Hits 15:47  |  GZLives 05/10/07
  51.   GEORGE ORWELL says ...... 15:47  |  Dagma 05/10/07
  52.   Mahmoud`s Greatest Hits Part 2 15:48  |  GZLives 05/10/07
  53.   Mahmoud`s Greatest Hits Finale - For VICKERY 15:49  |  GZLives 05/10/07
  54.   anti-Semitic Naziism of the old school 15:50  |  Paul Freedman 05/10/07
  55.   Ahmadinejad spits his pacifier out again 15:51  |  Steven A. 05/10/07
  56.   to John#45 15:54  |  Ilya 05/10/07
  57.   What happens to the 5 million Jews when Iran occupies Israel? 15:54  |  Mitch Iginer 05/10/07
  58.   John 15:54  |  friends of the IDF 05/10/07
  59.   Iranian investment 15:55  |  Jeffrey Blustein 05/10/07
  60.   Victor and moral issues 15:58  |  Lynn 05/10/07
  61.   Ahmadinejad - The Pig of Persia 16:00  |  Chaim Gorenstein 05/10/07
  62.   `The Importance of Jerusalem to Muslims` 16:04  |  Dolly 05/10/07
  63.   Only Moslems put down others 16:05  |  Avrum 05/10/07
  64.   #49 Maldivas 16:08  |  Henryk 05/10/07
  65.   dream on linthwaite,israel will be around for ever 16:11  |  terrornator 05/10/07
  66.   Diabolical demagogue 16:13  |  bob 05/10/07
  67.   lets see,chanting death to america and israel,burning flags,hmmm, 16:14  |  terrornator 05/10/07
  68.   What a buffoon... 16:16  |  Charles 05/10/07
  69.   what else is new? 16:18  |  Randy 05/10/07
  70.