Karrubi: We have been isolated
Photo: AP
Reformist candidate says Iran has 'done Israel a service'
Mehdi Karrubi, soon to run against Ahmadinejad, says talk of Holocaust put world on Israel's side
Iran's reformist presidential candidate, Mehdi Karrubi, criticized his rival President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and said he was "doing Israel a service", the reformist website Aftab reported.
"Raising the issue of the Holocaust during the reign of Ahmadinejad's government rendered Israel a great service and helped the world to stand by it. Should we support Hitler's side," Karrubi told a students' conference at Najafabad University Friday.
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Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Karrubi said, "We believe the Palestinians have been shirked of their rights and their lands, and Muslims and Palestinians need to live beside Christians and Jews."
The reformist candidate added, "We can create a dialogue with the Obama administration, but the one responsible for Iran's general policy is the high leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."
Whether a reformist president will bring vast change to Iranian policies, especially regarding its nuclear plans, remains to be seen. Karrubi attributed decisions on this matter to Khamenei as well.
"Many current problems in this field derive from Ahmadinejad, who dubbed UN resolutions 'pieces of paper'," he said.
Karrubi and the reformist movement believe Ahmadinejad's conduct has isolated Iran, and are currently working on enlisting young voters who oppose the president's tactics.
However a more prominent reformist leader, former Prime Minister Mir Hussein Moussavi, is expected to oust Korrubi in the June 12 elections. In a recent poll Moussavi and Ahmadinejad were ranked highest among the candidates.
