Iran’s President took his anti-Israel, antisemitic rhetoric to a new level — not only questioning whether the Holocaust exists, but suggesting that Israel move to Europe. Shall we use the word “extremist” and put it in italics (“extremist”):
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday expressed doubt that the Holocaust occurred and suggested Israel be moved to Europe.
His comments, reported by Iran’s official IRNA news agency from a news conference he gave in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, follow his call in October for Israel to be “wiped off the map”, which sparked widespread international condemnation.
“Some European countries insist on saying that Hitler killed millions of innocent Jews in furnaces and they insist on it to the extent that if anyone proves something contrary to that they condemn that person and throw them in jail,” IRNA quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
“Although we don’t accept this claim, if we suppose it is true, our question for the Europeans is: is the killing of innocent Jewish people by Hitler the reason for their support to the occupiers of Jerusalem?” he said.
“If the Europeans are honest they should give some of their provinces in Europe — like in Germany, Austria or other countries — to the Zionists and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe. You offer part of Europe and we will support it.”
“You oppressed them, so give a part of Europe to the Zionist regime so they can establish any government they want,” he said on a visit to Mecca.
The president’s remarks were quickly condemned by Israel and the US.
“This is not the first time, unfortunately, that the Iranian president has expressed the most outrageous ideas concerning Jews and Israel,” Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.
“He is not just Israel’s problem. He is a worry for the entire international community,” he added.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the Iranian leader’s comments “further underscore our concerns about the regime”.
“And it’s all the more reason why it’s so important that the regime not have the ability to develop nuclear weapons,” he said.
Mr Ahmadinejad’s stance drew condemnation from French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who were meeting in Berlin.
“The comments by the Iranian president are totally unacceptable,” said Ms Merkel.
What will happen? This is going to make it all the more compelling for most nations to want to put a halt to Iran’s nuclear program because they will (rightfully) fear a (dangerous) flake like this going near anything remotely nuclear. And, depending on how big the perceived threat is, his statements will (rightfully) be used against him if any kind of action is judged to be needed and taken. Middle East Online:
Official Iranian media frequently carry sympathetic interviews with Holocaust revisionist historians – who attempt to establish that the number of Jews killed by the Nazis was wildly exaggerated.
Iran refuses to recognize Israel.
Ahmadinejad said his second proposal was for “a referendum in Palestine for all the original Palestinians” to decide on the future of what is now Israel, the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
But the president said that “the best solution is resistance so that the enemies of the Palestinians accept the reality and the right of the Palestinian people to have land.”
Is it safe to conclude he isn’t a leader who can be trusted to try and reduce tensions in the world….let alone one to control nuclear capabilities?
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.