@im_PULSE @MaherBarotchi @mhmadallan @syrianviews @sarah131214 @PiersRobinson1 @AlysEliza @Tim_Hayward_ @OborneTweets @marydejevsky @bbclysedoucet @alextomo @ClarkeMicah @CraigMurrayOrg @dancohen3000 @MaxBlumenthal @jimmy_dore @Jonathan_K_Cook @JohnWight1 @johnpilger @NeilClark66 @afshinrattansi @SecureBio Thanks for that. Good to have some actual engagement on the issues. I will reply to each in turn below.
So, as predicted, there was some pushback on the idea that Iran is an essential support for the Palestinian Resistance.
As I have consistently said, if you want to know what the relationship is between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Palestinian Resistance, then you could hardly do better than to ask the Palestinian Resistance.
In the thread below 🧵are many statements from the leaders of Hamas (including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Saleh Al-Arouri), Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Ziad Al Nakhalah) and even one from Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah the late General Secretary of Hizballah.
Amongst the things they say are:
*They refer to Iran as 'our brothers' who give the resistance 'exceptional support';
*Iran are the 'main supporters' of the Palestinian Resistance;
*Iran 'assisted us with rockets and supported us financially and technically in developing the rockets of the resistance that were fired at Tel Aviv. Without its support, the resistance would not have attained such military capabilities at a time when the [Arab] nation has deserted us.';
*'Advancement from stones to missiles was achieved thanks to the grace of Allah and ... first and foremost the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hizballah';
*'Everyone knows that the brother Qassem Soleimani and the brothers in the Islamic Republic of Iran ... sent [military] aid to Gaza using [their] diplomatic relations – for example, their relations with Sudan. Things came to the point where Israeli planes bombed factories or weapons storehouses in Sudan... because they are storehouses for weapons, ammunition and missiles to be sent later, by various and diverse means, to the Gaza Strip.';
*'All the conventional weapons reached [Gaza] via Al-Hajj Qassem Soleimani, Hizballah, and Syria, and the entire [resistance] axis played a part in transporting them'.;
*'The mujahideen in Gaza and in Lebanon use Iranian weapons to strike the Zionists. We buy our weapons with Iranian money. An important part of our activity is under the supervision of Iranian experts. The contours of the victories in Palestine as of late were outlined with the blood of Qassem Soleimani, Iranian blood.';
*'I can not but thank those who brought forth money and weaponry to the valiant resistance. The Islamic Republic of Iran; who did not hold back with money, weapons and technical support. Thanks.';
*'the weapons that the Palestinians use for fighting come from Iran — the Iranians either pay for these weapons or provide them. This has been going on for thirty years.'
The time for maturity and more sophisticated analysis of the possibilities and pathways to decolonise Palestine is most definitely upon us.
#DismantleZionism
1. Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, 22 October 2017.
"We and our brothers in Iran share solid ground, on the basis of which we can always build and develop our relations. This principle has two parts. First of all, the Islamic Republic has adopted the Palestinian cause, and it supports the rights of our Palestinian people on their entire land, and it rejects any form of Zionist presence on the land of Palestine. Iran is acting in line with this principle. Secondly, we in Hamas have a firm and clear position: we refuse to accept anyone's participation in our land and our cause. Our people and our nation have an indisputable and full right to Palestine, and the resistance is a right and a duty that we will never relinquish."
"We have come to Iran on an official and public visit, partly as a response to [Netanyahu's] rude and arrogant interference [in our affairs], when he demanded that we sever [ties with Iran]. He cannot determine our foreign relations. We will not accept any dictates from him. So in addition to the need to consult with and update our brothers [in Iran] about the developments, this is also a response to the occupation's arrogant demand that we need to sever our ties with Iran.
"It is well known that Iran supported the Lebanese resistance, until the Israeli occupation was driven out. It supports the resistance in Palestine as well. They make no secret of this. They give us exceptional support. The resistance is in dire need of this to be able to confront the aggression of the Israeli entity. Therefore, the issue of Iran's continued and increased aid and support for the Palestinian people, our cause, and the Palestinian resistance is the main issue that we are discussing with the brothers in Iran."
"Of course, we cannot go into the details of the aid that Iran gives us, but in general, the public knows what aid Iran provides to Palestine and its resistance. There are some things that are out in the open. For example, the Al-Qassam Brigades declared, more than once, that the main supporters of the Brigades and of the resistance in the confrontation with the occupation are the brothers in Iran. It is our hope that this aid will continue and intensify, until the resistance is able to defeat the occupation, Allah willing."
2. Yahyah Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza, 25 December 2017.
"Qassem Soleimani contacted the commanders of the Al-Qassam [Brigades] and with the commanders of the Al-Quds Brigades, as was published in the news. The reports were correct. But then, the Zionist media and some pro-Zionist media outlets tried to put these contacts in the wrong context.
The man contacted [us] and stressed that Iran, the IRGC, and the Al-Quds Force stand, with all their capabilities, alongside our people, in defense of Jerusalem, and in order to keep Jerusalem the capital of the State of Palestine… He said clearly: We place all our capabilities at your disposal in the battle for the defense of Jerusalem. He did not ask, set conditions, or encourage us to employ any specific type of resistance.
Let me tell you something. I sat with the man when I visited Tehran in 2012. I saw a man who loves Palestine, loves Jerusalem, and loves anything that could bolster the steadfastness of our people."
"DigiTell network [was] established by [the] Ministry of Strategic Affairs in... 2018. There are ... 100 members... 20 countries... a reach ~ 15 million people in [over] 5 languages. [It] works 24/7 to defend Israel."
Announcing the award for creating a global troll network.
Watch the award ceremony here with then minister Gilad Erdan.
In the middle you can see Hidde von Koningsveld, from Honest Reporting, the Dutch Zionist who converted to Judaism and now lives on an illegal settlement in Palestine.
If you look closely you can see Simon Cobbs of Sussex Friends of Israel peeping out at the back and former arms lobbyist Luke Lakehurst, just behind minister Erdan.
Of course they are not the only British members of the regime directed network.
@pdeclassified has not really covered NGO Monitor (yet).
We did research with @Spinwatch in 2015.
Here is a diagram from our report on Deconstructing Israel’s campaign against the Palestinian Return Centre, showing the position of NGO Monitor in the anti-Muslim network.
Islamophobia runs deep on the left, including on the Jewish left. Here’s Julia Bard haranguing Jewish Voice for Labour about my factual comments.
So, who is Julia Bard?
Julia Bard is a long-standing and leading member of the Jewish Socialists’ Group (JSG), as is her partner David Rosenberg.
At best, the JSG has an ambiguous position on Zionism. It says it wants the left to ‘relate more positively to Jewish issues’ including analysis of the ‘Israel/Palestine conflict’. But Palestine isn’t a ‘Jewish issue’, and such a view obviously excludes Palestinians.