Israel Matzav

Ahmadinejad tells CNN and WaPo how he really feels about Israel

In New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tells CNN how he really feels about Israel.

Let's go to the videotape.



The full interview will be on CNN Monday night.

Ahmadinejad also told the Washington Post on Sunday that the 'Palestinians'  ought to vote Israel out of existence.

Ignatius: I want to ask a question about tone, and what we call rhetoric. We have had a conversation of almost an hour, it’s been conducted on an intellectual level of clear, back and forth, and there have been none of the statements about Israel that are upsetting to Israelis. Israelis often read your words and come away thinking: This man hates our country, peace is impossible. They feel a deep sense of threat, that Iran doesn’t want to see Israel exist. So I want to ask you, is there anything you would say to Israelis or Americans that would address this issue of what we think of as hateful remarks that deny the existence of this people.

Ahmadinejad: Thank you for posing several questions in one, sir. We are friends with people from all over the world. We have no problems with any people. Wherever in the world there are innocent people with problems, we are on their side. You see that even these days there are protests in the occupied territories by Palestinians in protest against their living conditions. …held by hundreds of thousands, protesting the Zionist government. They are people as well, and they are discontented with current conditions. We do believe we must move toward a situation in which the essence and fundamentals of occupation and terrorism must be eradicated. And bullying must be eradicated. This is the fundamental position that we hold, wherever in the world it may be. Our proposal is for everyone to allow people to freely hold elections and choose their governors. It’s been 6 ½ to 7 decades during which the people of Palestine have been dislodged from their homes. And their territories are under occupation, and an occupying regime has been bullying them and forcing them into the current conditions. If such a fate would have come into the lives of ordinary Americans, what proposal would you have had for them? I am sure you would propose for their elimination of international bullying and occupation. Imagine in your mind that the occupation of Palestine has come to an end. What would there remain? So this is the essence of what we are saying.

“But there is a lot to say about the relation between the Zionist regime and the people of the United States. I don’t believe that the Americans are fundamentally in agreement with the behavior of this regime. Certainly the people of the United States are against terrorism, bullying and destruction of private property and homes in which women and children reside. I do believe that any administration in the U.S. that would hold a census of public opinion, vis-a-vis national support for this kind of behavior of the government, would receive negative feedback from the citizens.”

Ignatius: We’d have to see. But I want to make sure I understand what you are trying to say. You want to eradicate bullying. But you do not want to eradicate the state of Israel, per se. Am I understanding that correctly?

Ahmadinejad: I asked you if the occupation in the Palestinian territories comes to an end what would there remain? Is there a Zionist regime in existence without occupation?

Ignatius: Well, there’s a state that was recognized by the United Nations in 1948. Yes, that state remains. So let me ask you: Would that state remain?

Ahmadinejad: “My question sir is, if occupation comes to an end, what will remain in its place? Allow me to rephrase my question another way. If the Palestinian people are given a free right to choose and hold elections in all of their occupied territories, what would the results be? I think the answer is amply clear. Of course the prerogative to choose rests with people of Palestine. We do not seek to impose self-determination by creating conflict and war. We say for the people of Palestine to be able to vote freely. Our proposal benefits everyone, even nations that support the Zionist regime. How much longer do they have to sustain the expenses of this regime, and alongside it, in many instances give up their dignity as well? I think they should allow the people of Palestine in all the territories of Palestine to decide, and whatever they decide, that is what should be done. This doesn’t need nuclear weapons, missiles rockets or destroying people’s homes….”

 There should be no doubt that if given the opportunity to do so, Ahmadinejad would God forbid destroy the State of Israel. He can never have that opportunity - at all costs. 

Labels: Iranian nuclear threat, Israeli attack on Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:50 PM