Zionism Phenomenon in the Thoughts and Works of Imam Khomeini ( RA)

From the political point of view of Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ), if the establishment of the Islamic government was a priority in Iran, it was the freedom of Bait – Al – Moghadas and the Palestine that was his most important thought and his most important political consideration out of his country. One of the most important discrepancies of Imam Khomeini with the Pahlavi regime was the influence of the Zionism in Iran and the presence of the Israeli intelligence in the higher positions in the Pahlavi regime. In other words, one can see in the revolutionary thinking and freedom seeking of Imam Khomeini's ( R. T. A. ) movement, the freedom of Iran and Israel as two important and vital necessity. Many of the written and oral works of Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) and his political fights indicate this issue to some of which we hereby refer.

News ID: ۲۲۸۱۷۳

پنجشنبه - ۱۴ بهمن ۲۰۰۹ / 2009 14 November

A ) A brief survey of Imam Khomeini's ( R. T. A. ) positions regarding the works of Zionism
B ) Zionism Phenomenon
C ) The kind and methods of standing against Zionism
D ) Conclusion

From the political point of view of Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ), if the establishment of the Islamic government was a priority in Iran, it was the freedom of Bait – Al – Moghadas and the Palestine that was his most important thought and his most important political consideration out of his country.
One of the most important discrepancies of Imam Khomeini with the Pahlavi regime was the influence of the Zionism in Iran and the presence of the Israeli intelligence in the higher positions in the Pahlavi regime.

In other words, one can see in the revolutionary thinking and freedom seeking of Imam Khomeini's ( R. T. A. ) movement, the freedom of Iran and Israel as two important and vital necessity. Many of the written and oral works of Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) and his political fights indicate this issue to some of which we hereby refer.

A ) A brief Survey of Imam Khomeini's position regarding the Zionist's actions:
The first official position that Imam Khomeini took was when he for the first time started his fights with Pahlavi regime and it was about the disagreement of Shah's regime to interdict Israel and not sell oil to that country and to stop diplomatic relationship with Israel.

Imam Khomeini has said in an interview that:
. . . . . The reason why we have been set against Shah is his helping of Israel. . . . . . .he has confiscated the oil of the Muslims and has dedicated it to Israel. . . . . This is one of the reasons why I was against Shah . . . . . . .
Since the year 1962 (1341) and in the famous message of Imam Khomeini, on the New Year's holidays of 1963 (1342), it is referred to the slaughter of the Muslims and the clergy by the government for the sake of safe preservation of the Israel's interests. . . . . . . It was after this that Imam Khomeini has discussed the issues very seriously. Especially in the bill of the State and Regional Associations the domination of the Zionists on the benefits and establishment of Iran has been seriously criticized. Imam Khomeini has considered, in a letter to answer the Qom associations of the working groups' letter, the economical relationship of the Alam Government with the Israel as a great danger for Islam and the dependence of the country. In 1963 (1342), in answering the letters of the religious clerics of Yazd Imam Khomeini considered Israel's danger very serious and called on them to protest against Israel and the Pahlavi regime.
One of the most severe and serious positions that Imam Khomeini took against Israel is his famous speech that he gave in the Azam Mosque, after he was released from the prison . . . . . . .
Lo! People! Our religion requires us not to agree with the enemies of Islam; our holy Qur'an decrees that we should not join the enemies of Islam to stand against the Muslims. Our nation is in disagreement with Shah's regime for coming to agreement with the Israeli regime. . . . . .
With the slaughter of the Feizieh School, Imam made Israel the butt of his attacks again.
In his message of (1964) 1343 in Moharram, Imam considered relationship with Israel downgrading and he asked for the Islamic unity of the Muslims.. . . . . .
In 28 / 8 / 1968 (6 / 6 / 1347) Imam Khomeini answered a group of the Fadaeis and the Palestinian young fighters and there indicated that it was necessary to fight with Israel and thereby he issued to order to make use of the Islamic donations and other sources to the fighters and defenders to do away with the danger of Israel.

In August 18th, 1969 the Zionists set fire on the Masjed Al Aqsa. In addition to condemning the Zionists he said it was not necessary to rebuild Masjed Al Aqsa until the time that Palestine is released so that the crimes of the Zionists are seen by the world.
During the fifth decade of the lunar calendar and until the Islamic revolution, Imam Khomeini, in different announcements and in answer to the letters of people, students and religious experts had ordered that the war to release Palestine and supporting the Palestinian fighters is obligatory on every Muslim. He, thereby, enlivened these issues in the minds and thoughts of the common people.

The apex of Imam Khomeini (R. T. A.) was his attacks on Zionists and his support of the Palestinian people in determining the Qods date as a day to stand in opposition to the world powers and oppressors as well as Zionism. In a symbolic and innovative step Imam Khomeini has announced the last Friday of Ramadan as the date of Qods. In some part of his message it is indicated that: The day of Qods is a world day. It is not a day that might be specialized for Qods rather it is the date of the confrontation of the poor and the oppressors. . . . . . It is necessary for all the nations to rise and to overthrow this source of dirt in to the wastebaskets . . . . . . .It is a day in which we have to try our best to save Qods. It is a day which is vital and we have to renovate Islam and to abide by the laws of Islam . . . . . . It is a date in which the right overcomes the wrong . . . . . (6)

The Zionist Phenomenon:
The advent of Zionism in the form of the Israeli government and the overall threatening of the Muslim societies in the area has caused a lot of changes in the Middle East. This phenomenon and the consequential happenings are named in the literature of the international relation as the Arab – Israel Crisis. In Imam Khomeini’s thoughts, Zionism is a movement against Islam and Muslims. It was as a result of Imam Khomeini’s thoughtful efforts that this crisis has been changed from an Arabic issue to an Islamic issue (7). There is no doubt that this effort was the result of Imam Khomeini’s Islamic Unity Thinking that has resulted in its fulfillment in action. From a political and militaristic point of view it caused the placement of one milliard Muslims against Israel instead of one hundred million Arab. Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) considered Zionism as a movement whose most apparent characteristic was to stand against Islam under aegis of world powers. In Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. )’s point of view Zionism was a political, exploitative and non – religious phenomenon which was separate from the Jewish society. ( 8 ). Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) considered his disagreement with Israel and Zionism separate from Jewish and Judaism even he emphasizes respecting to other religions. ( 9 ).

Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) considers Zionism as a product of exploitative and oppressive powers which under the continuous protection of the United States. He accounts for the connection of the Zionists with the world greatest powers and materialists of the western world such as the United States of America; below he states the origins and the reasons for the rise of Israel:

. . . . . . Israel was born in cahoots and collusion of the western and eastern exploitative powers; it came to being for the sake of oppressing and exploiting the Islamic nations. It is nowadays supported by all the exploitative powers. America and England are always enticing Israel to attack Muslims and Arabs by strengthening it politically and militaristically as well as providing it with deadly guns. . . . . . . ( 10 ). Of the other characteristics of Zionism which has been emphasized a lot in Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. )’ s works and speeches is the Ideology of from Nile to Furat. He used to believe that with occupying Palestine, Lebanon and Julan and signing different peace treaties, the Israeli attacks would not end. Rather they are going to establish the great Israel; they are really a great danger for all the Middle East and the Islamic territories. In addition to warning the Arab countries of the Middle East in order to erase Israel on the face of the Political Geography he decreed it was better to equip and revolt against Israel. ( 11 ).
In this regard, Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) considered the admonitions of the United States and Israel under the cover seeking peace as waiting to find the appropriate time to go a step further and achieve that vain goal of Israel to govern the Islamic countries from Nile to Furat. ( 12 ). . . . . . Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) has accounted for this movement of Israel as a peaceful movement of a great and huge threatening snake for the exploitation and making use of the area. ( 13 ).
In general, from the point of view of Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ), Zionism means fighting with Islam, with religion; it is equal to illegal progression; the offspring of world oppressors, the complete symbol for corruption, a political means for exploiting the golden and resourceful lands of the Islamic countries to achieve to their vain goal to establish great Israel which extends from Nile to Furat and perform their exploitative doctrine.

C: Kind and Ways of Facing Zionism:
In the thoughts of Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ), to solve the problem of Palestine, the political and diplomatic solution is not acceptable . . . . . the governments and Palestinian groups should not discuss any issues diplomatically; . . . . . . it is possible to destroy Israel only through Jihad and military attacks; Israel is like a cancer tumor and the only way to cure is to operate a deep operation and to eradicate it from its roots.
Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) criticizes those who are seeking political methods to solve the problem of Palestine and thus states . . . . . . : “I advise the Palestinian leaders to avoid their coming and goings and it is better to fight with Israel by relying on the help of God and the Palestinian as well as their own guns . . . . . because these commutations would decrease the motivation in their people. You have to believe that neither the west nor the east is helping you. It is better not to refrain from fighting with Israel and with the help of your guns and your faith try to achieve your goals . . . . . . . (14).
Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) considers the great and the basic problem of the Muslims to be schism so much so that he emphasizes that this has been the reason for the weakness of the Muslims against Israel; it is while if Muslims are united and if each Muslim poured only a glass of water, then there would happen a flood and Israel would vanish. ( 15 ).
One of the ways that Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) discusses as a way for confronting Israel was to prohibit selling oil to Israel and its protectors and supporters by the countries which produce oil; He was saying that the Islamic countries and should make use of oil as a weapon to make use of against Israel and the exploitative and oppressing countries. ( 16 ). It should be mentioned that when Imam Khomeini discussed this, the industrial countries were not producing replacing other energies and strategic stocks for oil. Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) was thinking that the governments which are under the supervision and control of the united states are the only reason for the problems which Muslim countries are experiencing. He said that was the root of the other problems as well. He contended that the solution for this problem is also in the hands of the Muslims ( 17 ).

Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) has said about the role of the international organizations that: . . . . . The Muslims should not sit and wait to see what the international organizations would do for them; rather it is incumbent on these countries to upraise and make their countries and governments to stand against Israel; they have not to be satisfied only with condemnation. . . . . . ( 18 ).

Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) believed that the secret of victory is in martyrdom; he accounts for martyrdom as a Qur’anic sign which without paying attention to the material, worldly and animalistic lives will be the cause of the success and progress of the nations. He advises the nations to remember this sign . . . . . ( 19 ).

Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) believes that Palestinian Intifada and the Islamic and national movements of the Palestinians is a very precious thing; he had considered this method as the most ideal strategy for the destruction of the Zionists; he has emphasized that this should be followed . . . . . .without stop ( 20 ).

Conclusion:
Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) has considered no way to come to an agreement with Israel even if Israel is remorseful of what it did before; he considered the public upraise of the nations and the governments which are supporting Palestine under the same Islamic unity strategy, religious brotherhood as a unique hand under the Islamic flag while emphasizing the national and original identity, as the necessities in fighting with Israel. The un – questionable eradication and destruction of Israel through military struggles as well as public up – raise, especially the protest of the Palestinians and seeking martyrdom on their part in addition to asking God for His help and supports as the bases of this fight. Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ) considered the waking of the nations and their fights to prevent the governments from signing peace treaties in the issues of Palestine are the most important supports for the continuation of the fights with Israel. In fact Intifada has been the sign and symbol of the thought and strategies of Imam Khomeini ( R. T. A. ).

Footnotes:
1. Sahifeh Noor, Vol. 4 , An interview dated 7 / 12 / 1978 ( 16 / 9 / 1357 ).
2. Ibid. Vol. 1. page 77. 15 / 5 / 1964 ( 25 / 2 / 1343 ).
3. Ibid. Vol. 1. PP. 157 , 154. 3 / 6 / 1964 ( 13 / 3 / 1343 ).
4. Ibid. Vol. 1. P. 137.
5. Ibid. Vol. 1. P. 134.
6. Ibid. Vol. 10. P. P. 113 , 119.
7. Ibid. Vol. 17. P. 29. 20 / 9 / 1982 ( 29 / 6 / 61 ).
8. Ibid. Vol. 6. P. 164. 14 / 5 / 1979 ( 24 / 2 / 1358 ).
9. Ibid. Vol. 4. P. 119 14 / 1 / 1979 ( 24 / 10 / 1357 ).
10. Ibid. Vol. 1. P. 186 13 / 7 / 1972 ( 22 / 4 / 1351 ).
11. Ibid. Vol. 19. P. P. 6 , 7.
12. Ibid. Vol. 19. P. 7.
13. Ibid. Vol. 18. P. 12.
14. Ibid. Vol. 16. P. 228. 16 / 7 / 1982 ( 25 / 4 / 1361 ).
15. Ibid. Vol. 8. P. 235 . 16 / 8 / 1980 ( 25 / 5 /1358 ).
16. Ibid. Vol. 16. P. 197. 14 / 6 / 1982 ( 24 / 3 / 1361 ).
17. Ibid. Vol. 12. P. 278. 14 / 6 / 1980 ( 24 / 3 / 1359 ).
18. Ibid. Vol. 15. P. 262. 15 / 5 / 1981 (25 / 2 / 1360 ).
19. Ibid. Vol. 5. P. 262
20. Ibid. Vol. 20. P. 179. 10 / 2 / 1983 ( 21 / 11 / 1366 ).

Writer: Saeed Karami