by: Shaya Lerner
July 06, 2016
As the Iranian government commemorated Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day on Friday, July 1st, which included the usual protests involving the burning of US and Israeli flags, some senior Iranian religious leaders and government officials expressed their desire to see Israel’s destruction. These pronouncements, some of which echoed prior comments made by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, included:
- “Today the most important point for the Islamic world is unity against Israel and whoever breaks this unity would be a traitor. People of Iran never abandon their goal. I hope that a third intifada will lead to the destruction of Israel.” - Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamadani
- “As the Supreme leader said: In 25 years we will be the witness of the destruction of Zionist regime.” - Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmadreza Pourdastan
- “We are getting close to collapse and destruction of the Zionist regime. This regime is making all its effort to support the terrorism and elimination of Muslims.” - Hossein Taeb, Iranian Shia Muslim cleric and current head of the Intelligence Organization of Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
The Al-Quds Day celebrations also featured Iranian government-sponsored demonstrations with harsh anti-Israel expressions, and anti-Semitic and anti-Israel cartoons were published in Iranian media outlets.