Jerusalem Day march
Photo: AP
Iran holds annual pro-Palestinian march
Thousands gather in Tehran for national holiday of 'Jerusalem Day,' chanting 'Death to Israel'; former Iranian president says cooperation of Muslim world can 'break Zionist spirit'
If the entire Muslim world "would come together to support the Palestinian people, it would break the spirit of the Zionists," said former Iranian president Akbar Rafsanjani in a Friday morning press conference.
The press meeting marked the opening of Iranian celebrations of 'Jerusalem Day', a national day to demonstrate Shiite solidarity with the Palestinians and Shiite support of the goal to 'emancipate' Jerusalem from Israel. It has been held every year since 1979 in the Islamic Republic on the last Friday of the month of Ramadan.
Iran's anti-Israel rhetoric
News agencies
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During the press conference, Rafsanjani also warned Israel and the United States of the price of attacking Iran, adding that he did not think that the two states would seriously consider undertaking such an attack.
International news agencies reported that thousands of people had gathered in Tehran for an annual Jerusalem Day march, chanting 'Death to Israel' and holding anti-Israeli and anti-American signs. Calls of incitement were heard both from leaders and participants.
One marcher, quoting the words of former Iranian leader Ayatollah Humeini, said "we must remove the cancer of the Zionist establishment." Iranian news agency IRNA reported that another marcher called on Israel to "stop its crimes immediately."
A book containing 52 caricatures of the Holocaust was displayed in Palestine Square in the Iranian capital.
Mohammad Ali Ramin, Advisor to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that "Jerusalem Day is a day to report on the work of the Muslim world, to see what they've done to save the Palestinians in the previous year."
Similar pro-Palestinian marches are planned in cities and towns across.
