“Open Forum, Ahmadinejad and Israel”

Nema, Iranian Truth:

What did Ahmadinejad mean by saying that Israel "must be wiped off the map"?

Updates from the blogosphere:

• Hoder provides this apology and points to Ahmadinejad's connection with Mesbah-e Yazdi.
• Shahram discusses the impact Ahmadinejad's speech will have on the EU/US nuclear stance via-a-vis Iran.
• Pedram worries that equally fundamentalist right-wingers will use the speech out of context in order to fuel their own ideologies.
• Faramin is angry that the statement will fuel military actions by the US and Israel.

Soujourner,

Nema, I am not sure why you pose the question? It is not like his statement was couched in ambigous language where one would have to decipher the meaning by reading between the lines. He said what he meant, simple as that. Such a statement should not come to anyone’s surprise, even if not diplomatically prudent. This was not a deviation in the rhetoric of the regime, simply because Kharazzi did not speak in such language in the past few years. Destruction of the zionist entity has always been a revolutionary principle and remains an “article of faith” for many. This obviously does not mean one has to agree with it or not lol, even if a supporter of the revolution and its other principles.

Now I think the more proper question would be why did he make such a statement or what the implications of his statements are? And for this one would have to understand this group of peoples genuine belief in Imam Mahdi, which they believe his re-appearance is very near. One of the slogans often chanted in prayer services in Iran is “Khodaya Khodaya ta enqelab e Mahdi be nehzat e Khomeini mohafazat befarmayn.” [DoctorZin rough translation: Oh God, Oh God, please keep Khomeni alive until the return of the hidden Imam]

Also recall President Ahmadinejad made his cabinet sign a misaq (pact) with Imam Mahdi, which was dropped in the Jamkaran well in Qom, where many believe Imam Mahdi will emerge from. Remember, Ahmadinejad’s spiritual advisor is Mesbah-Yazdi, who many believe has ties with Hojjatiyeh-Mahdaviyeh. Do you think its coincidental that Ahmadinejad opened his speech to the General Assembly last month with a reference to Imam Mahdi?

Part of all the prophecy is that Imam Mahdi will emerge from Khorasan and lead his army to liberate Al-Quds from the hands of the yahoodis. So his provocative language can be interpreted as a sign for the fulfillment of these prophecies. READ MORE

The same prophecies which the Christian Right wish to occur to bring about the return of Jesus, hence why their support for Israel. I think you have enough powerful interests across the Globe which subscribe to this messianism and given nuclear proliferation the signs are dismal for an apocalyptic event. No doubt the actions of the Zionists and Iranians will be crucial in the launching of this event and the only thing certain about its outcome is its uncertainty lol.

Nema is a "reformist" supporting Iranian blogger.