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Iran's Leader Reiterates Importance of Jihad Against "Occupiers of Palestine"

Posted on: Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 09:00 CST

Text of report by Iranian TV on 13 December

Supreme leader of the Islamic revolution, His Eminence Ayatollah [Ali] Khamene'i - at a meeting today with the leader of Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Khalid Mash'al, and his accompanying delegation - said: The Palestinian nation owes its success of the recent years, particularly the success in the expulsion of the Zionist regime from the Gaza Strip, to the resistance and Jihad against the usurping Zionist regime. And continuation of the resistance is the only way that guarantees the liberation of Palestine. And the future of the Palestinian people also depends on maintaining unity and following the fundamental principles of Islam.

Referring to the present plight of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories, His Eminence added: The experience of the past 50 years shows that compromise with the Zionist occupiers and negotiations with them will not improve the situation. On the contrary, any compromise will increase the pressure [on the Palestinian people]. We therefore conclude that victory will be achieved through resistance only.

The supreme leader pointed out: The enemies of the Palestine nation are today beset with countless political and economic problems. They withdrew from Lebanon yesterday, were forced to leave Gaza today and tomorrow the Palestinian nation will kick the occupiers out of Bayt al-Maqdis, God willing.

Ayatollah Khamene'i added: The intifadah demonstrated that the Palestinian people's power is greater than the capabilities of the Zionist regime and America. And America, despite its hollow display of power, is facing defeat in the Middle East and is retreating. In view of the existing circumstances, the Palestinian people and the resistance groups must maintain vigilance and continue their duty of Jihad.

Khalid Mash'al, for his part, expressed gratitude for the stance adopted by the Iranian leadership and government in support of the Palestinian people. He said: The Islamic Republic of Iran's stance in fact demonstrates the heartfelt sentiments of the Muslim and Arab nations. And all Muslims are proud of this [Iranian] courageous stance. However, it is regrettable that other Islamic governments dare not express their views.

He presented a report on the plight of the Palestinian people and pointed out: Despite all the pressure, the Palestinian people's belief in the resistance and Jihad has become stronger. And the Hamas movement will never give up its principled strategy of resistance.

Khalid Mash'al added: We will not be satisfied with anything less than the liberation of all the occupied territories, the return of all Palestinian refugees and the withdrawal of the occupiers. And as Imam Khomeyni said, Israel is a cancerous tumour, and we shall never put up with it.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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