Imam Khomeini’s Perception of Israel

Imam Khomeini
Imam Khomeini’s Perception of Israel

The idea of ​​forming a Jewish state in Palestine was so despicable that it stirred a public reaction in the Muslim world and prevented the Zionists from enjoying control over Jerusalem. But the Muslim response to the occupation of the Palestinian territories was based on the profound views of Muslim leaders and their enlightening. Imam Khomeini’s intellectual and political views and positions in this regard took a fundamental and decisive role and emphasized the fight against Israel as an important foreign policy and fundamental strategy of standing up against injustice and cruelty.

What Imam Khomeini recommended the Muslim nations and countries regarding the economic boycott of Israel and using the large gatherings such as the Hajj and the observance of International al-Quds Day, ultimately played a role in weakening Israel’s global and regional status and now we see the failure of Israeli expansionist policies in the Middle East. In this article, the fundamental views of Imam Khomeini concerning the formation of Israel and the methods of fighting against it are being outlined.

Israel’s Goals in the Middle East

Through a gradual advancement into the Palestinian territories, the Zionist regime has begun to build settlements for Jewish immigrants. They were following this long-term plan to form a Jewish state. It cannot be claimed that the Arabs who are residing in Jerusalem had sold part of their land to immigrant Jews, and they also started to build schools, hospitals, military barracks and recreational and sports facilities and hence they have formed the Jewish state based on the right to buy the land. There are many ethnicities and religions in the various countries of the world that have great influence both in terms of population and income but have never established a government. The fact is that most of the lands owned by the Jewish state or the Jewish National Fund are the confiscated Palestinian lands. In fact, the Israelis seized the Muslim lands and laid the foundations of an illegitimate government there. Imam Khomeini has pointed to this matter and said: “We condemn Israel. Israel is a usurper, and it has occupied that land illegally.”

The basic foundation of this government was formed by the pressures of colonial powers. Certainly, such an illegal and unjustified act must be carried out through destruction and war. Israel’s formation was, first of all, to exert pressure on Muslims and to pave the way for regional challenges: “This core of corruption that they have put at the heart of the Islamic countries is not just for the oppression of the Arab nation, but also it jeopardizes the whole Middle East. The plan is the dominance and colonization of Zionism over the Islamic world as well as most of the fertile lands and rich resources of the Islamic countries.” The long-term policies of Israel and its allies among the Islamic countries have been using power and domination, along with the expansion of the sphere of influence such that on the one hand the domineering policies are maintained and on the other hand these policies are designed based on the offensive strategies. In fact, the Israeli position, in the mid-term or long term, is only based on an offensive strategy. Therefore, Imam Khomeini does not allow adopting any conciliatory and negligent policy regarding them: “If you give up, they will go to the Euphrates. They claim that all the lands here are their property.”

Perusing the policy of territorial development and its expansion from the Nile to the Euphrates is one of the main goals of the founders of the Jewish state. The idea of returning to the Promised Land which originates in their scriptures and religious interpretations, is part of the plans of Israeli political leaders to create a kind of national interest and a sense of nationalism among the Jews to return to Palestine. In an attempt to accomplish their goals, they use military facilities and terrorist acts to expand the territories and dominate religious sites such as Jerusalem. 

Creating an atmosphere of intimidation within the occupied territories by using the terror machine has forced many Palestinians to migrate and settle in camps in countries such as Syria and Jordan, and instead, has led to Jewish immigrants coming to Palestine from Western Europe and North America. On August 31, 1949, Ben-Gurion during a meeting with a group of Americans has said: “Although we have put the dream of forming an Israeli state into action, we are still in the beginning. Currently, only nine hundred thousand Jews are living in Israel, while the majority of the Jewish population is still abroad. Our future effort focuses on bringing all Jews to Israel.” The Israelis consider expelling all Palestinians as part of their long-term goals. The Israeli statesmen are using every means to achieve the so-called Jewish ideals in order to consolidate the regime’s political position; in other words, in their view using immoral policies (assassination, violence, exile, and imprisonment) to accomplish the goal is allowed.

These measures have been theorized on the basis of an instrumentalist view. On the other hand, the Zionists at the international level, with the backing of great powers such as the United States and its allies, cover up their illegitimate and unjustified actions and policies. The White House has repeatedly sought to prevent the Palestinian combatant groups and refugees from exercising their right of living in their original homeland in order to consolidate Israel’s position in the Palestinian territory. Imam Khomeini considered all these plans of the Americans in the region to be deceptive and warlike: “Even if the United States suggests a one hundred percent Islamic-humanitarian plan, we would not believe that they are going to take a step towards our interests and peace. If the United States and Israel say La ilaha illa Allah, we will not accept it because they want to deceive us. Those who talk about peace want to bring the region to the brink of war.”

The Duties of Islamic States Regarding the Issue of Israel

Islamic governments can play an important and fundamental role in directing and adopting the political policies against Israeli aggression, as diplomatic relations and official recognition of a state are within the spheres of the authority of the governments. In addition to using diplomacy tools, governments can take effective steps in this regard through sanctions, cutting off the economic relations, and exposing the aggressor’s real face in the international events and showing the aims behind its measures. One of the interesting and important points in Imam Khomeini’s stance against Israel was the criticism of the pro-Israel Muslim governments. The first pro-Israel government which Imam Khomeini opposed was the Pahlavi regime.

From the very beginning of his opposition to the Shah, Imam Khomeini revealed the increasing presence of Israel and its behind-the-scenes role in Iranian politics. In his lectures during the early 1960s, he addressed three major goals in the fight against the regime:

1) The despotism and corruption of the government and, at the head of it, the Shah himself

2) The Shah’s anti-religious and anti-Islamic policies put Islam and the Quran at risk.

3) Israeli influence at the various political, social and economic levels of the country.

As can be seen, on the one hand, Imam Khomeini defended Islam and Islamic teachings and on the other hand, he attacked Israel and the Pahlavi political system. Interestingly, according to Islamic and Quranic teachings, Imam Khomeini characterized fighting against tyranny and colonialism as being interrelated and identified tyranny and Israel as the two dangerous factors for Iranian society as well the country’s interests.

The Shah’s agents had urged Imam Khomeini not to address issues such as Islam, Israel and the Shah, but Imam Khomeini explicitly condemned any relationship between the Shah’s regime and Israel: “From the very beginning, we have had a clear attitude against the Zionists. One of the reasons for our opposition to the Shah of Iran has been his relationship with Israel. This has led to the Iranian movement.”

This determination to oppose Israel and supporting the rights of the Palestinian nation existed not only in the theoretical and pre-revolutionary movements but also continued after the formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. From Imam Khomeini’s point of view, the duty of the governments regarding the actions of the Zionist regime can be fulfilled in two ways: unity and integrity, economic sanctions.

Islamic Nations and Israel

Another issue that Imam Khomeini has taken into consideration in his view is the role and duty of the people of the Islamic countries against the Zionist regime. Many Muslims with ethnic, linguistic, national, and religious diversities are living in the Muslim world from Africa to Asia, as well as across the European countries. Today, one in four people worldwide is Muslim. By relying on the power of faith, unity and cooperation, this population can overcome many of the obstacles and difficulties which the oppressed Palestinian people are facing. In order to waken up the Islamic nations, Imam Khomeini calls on the Iranian people “to first prevent Israel and the United States from perusing their interests in Iran and stand against them though it will result in undermining their interests. It is the responsibility of the scholars and clergies to address the crimes of Israel in mosques and religious circles.” In fact, he wants to say that if people realize that the government is acting in line with the interests and policies of Israel and do nothing with respect to the demands of the Palestinians, it is the duty of the nations to prevent these irresponsible and unjustified actions; therefore, the first condition is that people should be vigilant and aware so that they can distinguish the true interests and needs from the false ones. Imam Khomeini describes the Iranian people as the best model for Islamic nations: “Those deaf and blind individuals will not adopt rationality unless the Islamic countries, the Islamic nations, do not embody the concept found in Iran and take to the streets asking their governments to stand up against Israel.”

The world saw that the Iranian people in the Islamic Revolution under the leadership of Imam Khomeini, on the one hand, broke the monarchy and on the other hand supported the oppressed and deprived people of the world especially the Islamist movements.

With the formation of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, one of the supporters of the Israeli regime in the region vanished, and in addition, a wave of hope, dynamism and mobility among the oppressed Palestinian groups, organizations, and people to rid themselves of Israeli aggressors was created. In fact, the reason for all the opposition to and restrictions against the Islamic Republic is that the Islamic Revolution has changed many of the region’s political equations in favour of the oppressed people of Palestine and against the Israeli Zionist regime. It is in line with this characteristic of the Islamic Revolution that Imam Khomeini reminds all Islamic nations, especially the Palestinian people, of the uprising of the Iranian people and the reliance on Islamic beliefs and abandoning any type of dependence to the East and the West, in order to achieve their goals and aspirations: “Be sure that neither the East nor the West will benefit you. Fight against Israel with the help of the faith in God and also the weapons like the Iranian nation and its armed forces, who continue fighting without relying on superpowers and with the belief in God until they achieve their legitimate demands.”

In addition to awakening the nations and emphasizing faith in God in liberating Palestine from the clutches of the Zionist invaders, Imam Khomeini emphasized factors that created integration between the Islamic nations, such as the observance of the al-Quds Day and the Hajj pilgrimage. In a speech he made on August 6, 1980, Imam Khomeini called on all Muslims in the world to “commemorate the al-Quds Day, to hold demonstrations in all the Islamic countries on that say, which is the last Friday of the month of Ramadan, and to hold gatherings in the mosques shouting slogans against the enemy.” In fact, al-Quds Day is a day when Muslims around the world gather to express their hatred of Zionism. This unity and integration by the Muslim nations, though not in line with the interests of some governments, can be seen as a symbol of public solidarity in the Muslim world.

Imam Khomeini has always insisted that Muslims around the world with their collective will should strive to push Israel out of Jerusalem. Also, Islamic governments should not abdicate this responsibility. In addition to holding demonstrations on International al-Quds Day, Imam Khomeini advocated the gathering of Muslims during the Hajj rituals and regarded this gathering as a powerful force against the arrogant and invaders. Another purpose of the Hajj rituals, in addition to worshipping God and purity of the heart, is to find out about the status of Muslims around the world. Imam Khomeini insisted that the pilgrims who gather at this holy place each year should take full advantage of the opportunity: “you should talk about and discuss the problems of the Muslims. You should know that this great community, which is provided by God Almighty in this holy land every year, calls upon the Muslim nations to pursue the sacred aims of Islam, the supreme purposes of the shari’ah, and to purify themselves and create unity within the Islamic community.” After referring to the general frameworks facing Muslims, Imam Khomeini addressed the responsibility of this large community in defending the Palestinian rights: “this community should try to liberate the Islamic land of Palestine from the clutches of the Zionism which is the enemy of Islam and humanity, and cooperation with those who fight for the liberation of Palestine should not be neglected.”

Imam Khomeini’s emphasis on Hajj and International al-Quds Day are rooted mainly in the huge gathering of the Muslim population in specific places. On the one hand, such gatherings create a sense of self-confidence and motivation for seeking justice through having the common features (supporting the Palestinian people) and, on the other hand, create a sense of fear, chaos and anxiety among the enemies of Islam. People in Islamic countries can create and establish non-governmental organizations and offices working on defending the Palestinian people in an attempt to support the Palestinians through financial aids. On the other hand, the educated and political activists can also defend the rights of the Palestinian people by issuing declarations, presenting works and articles, and organizing conferences. Today, public opinion around the world is witnessing the dangerous and shocking actions that Zionism is taking against the oppressed Palestinian people to maintain its power.

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