UPDATED ON:
Friday, September 26, 2008
19:53 Mecca time, 16:53 GMT
News Middle East
Iran warns West on al-Quds day
Demonstrators in Tehran chanted "Death
to America" and "Death to Israel" [AFP]

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former Iranian president, has warned the West that its support for Israel will backfire.

As thousands of Iranians rallied on al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day, Rafsanjani said supporting Israel was dangerous and that the US, Britain and France will "put themselves in trouble".

The powerful politician warned supporters at the rally, which is held every year on the last Friday of Ramadan, that Israel could take "tougher and more offensive action" than the US against Iran and the Arab world.

Al-Quds Day was started by the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as a way of expressing solidarity with the Palestinians and underscoring Jerusalem's importance to Muslims.

Solidarity call

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rallied in cities across the country to protest against Israel's occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem.

"Jerusalem is being destroyed and Judaized every day while Israeli flags fly in their capitals"

Ahmed Jibril, leader of the PFLP-GC

In the capital Tehran, demonstrators chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel", with some setting fire to US and Israeli flags.

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

Rallies were also held in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the besieged Gaza Strip to mark al-Quds Day.

In the Syrian capital of Damascus, 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, leader of the 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.

"Jerusalem is being destroyed and Judaized every day while Israeli flags fly in their capitals."

Israeli alert

Israel, meanwhile, imposed tighter security measures inside Jerusalem and the Old City on Friday.

Thousands of Israeli police were deployed in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Compound, which houses the al-Aqsa mosque and the glittering Dome of the Rock, as well as crossings leading to it.

Thousands of Palestinians were expected to converge on the compound from other parts of the West Bank in an attempt to pray there.

 Source: Agencies
 
Topics in this article
People

Country

City

Feedback Number of comments : 5
 
J.
United States
27/09/2008
Iranian fanatacism
Ahmed Jibril "Jerusalem is being destroyed and Judaized every day while Israeli flags fly in their capitals" ha ha, what garbage! It was Jewish long before is was Muslim/Arabic. If Iran continues its campaign to build nuclear weapons, all bets are off. We will hear another story about a "baby food factory" being destroyed and Iran's nuclear problem will be solved (thanks to Israeli bombers and American guidance). Its high time someone calls their bluff.

United Earth
United States
26/09/2008
Move forward
When are these guys going to stop calling for the destruction if Israel. Whether you think this is a legal or illegal state, it does not matter anymore. Time to move forward and work on a plan B, like a Palestinion homeland. A duel country solution. Anything else is useless because it leads to armagedden

T. H.
Palestinian Territory
04/10/2008
Fare, Freedom and Fools
this is a reply to Mr. J Just a comment on your massage on the 27-Sept-08. You stated that the land was Jewish before been Muslim land or Arabs’ then let’s give the red Indians north America.

michael
Philippines
30/09/2008
recall history
I can't blame the Palestinians and the Arabs for their cause. Because this is all fault by the Allied Nations. If they just fulfill their promise of independence to the Palestinians during the World War I, it will not result to this problem. This is not about religion or something, this is about feeling of being betrayed. Stop the support-violence by the Israel in the Gaza strip.

A.
United States
30/09/2008
Ignorant
As long as Americans continue in the pursuit of Ignorance, then one may fairly say that there is no other solution but to allow other countries to use any means necessary to defend themselves and what they deem sacred, (Religion, Family, Freedom). Why is it that the Armed forces of the US may defend themselves, but when Palestinians attempt to do the same they are labled a "terrorist". Please for all Americans out there... Look in the Mirror, for your true colors are so very evident!!

 
ARTICLE TOOLS
 Email Article  Email article
 Print Article  Print article
 Send Feedback  Send feedback
 Share article  Share article
Aljazeera.net/english 2003 - 2010 ©
Designed & Developed by Aljazeera IT