Iran's Position Towards Israel Not Changed: Experts

Azerbaijan, Baku, April 30 /Trend News, D.Ibrahimova/

The statement of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying that Iran is not against the establishment of two states in the territory of Palestine does not show Teheran's soft position towards Tel-Aviv.

"Ahmadinejad's statement cannot be considered as recognition of Israel by Iran," American expert for Iran Robert O.Freedman said.

Whatever decision is made on establishment of two states as a way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Iran will support it, Iranian President said in an interview with the ABC channel. "We are not going to determine anything. Whatever decision is made, we will support it," Ahmadinejad said.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is due to borders and territories.

In 1947, the UN Council of Security adopted a Resolution offering the establishment of Jewish and Arab states in Palestine. Israel would have been provided with 55 percent of lands west of Jordan. Jerusalem would have been an international enclave, and Israel should have to stop building of Jewish settlements on the occupied territories. However, Israel denied the Resolution.

Officials from Iran and Israel have repeatedly made threats against the opposite side. Ahmadinejad said that Israel should be "wiped off the face of the earth," and has repeatedly denied the Holocaust, calling it "myth." Relations between countries were severed since 1940s Israel maintains an occupation policy in the region. Relations between Israel and Iran were severed after the Iranian 1978-1979 Revolution.

Experts doubt that Ahmadinejad's latest statement saying that Iran supports the decision to establish two states may be the result of softened Teheran's position towards Tel-Aviv.

It was an attempt to show that Iran is subservient to Palestinian wishes, the Strategic Studies Institute Researcher Bob Freedman wrote to Trend News via e-mail.

Iran's actions and statements are quite different. Therefore, no one should make a conclusion out of Ahmadinejad's statement on Israel, experts said.  

Proceeding from Ahmadinejad's statements, it is difficult to realize which of his statements relate to policy and rhetoric, expert on Middle East, Maryland university professor Aaron Mannes told trend News via E-mail.

"In its turn, Iran supports Hamas and Palestinian group of Islamic Jihad that complicates attempts in reaching compromise," Mannes said.

The U.S. often accused Iran of supporting Hamas movement. U.S. ex-president George Bush referred Iran to evil axis, i.e. countries supporting terrorism in the world.   

Palestinians' fundamental requirements including return of Palestinian refugees to Israel and return to borders of 1967 mean that the agreement will not be reached soon, Mannes said. Israelis and Palestinians are not close to the agreement but Iran complicates achievement of this agreement by supporting groups. 

Other U.S expert on Middle East Stephen Zunes said that Ahmadinejad's statement should not be considered as recognition of Israeli state. But, from other side, the statement can demonstrate that Ahmadinejad's position is not straight-out as it is often regarded.

Example of Iran's irreconcilability can be unwillingness to refuse from nuclear development. European countries and the USA doubt of peace character of this nuclear development.

UN Security Council often imposes economic sanctions towards Iran to cease development of nuclear program but in vain.

"When Libya and Iraq took more uncompromising position towards Israel than Palestinians, two countries lost a little trust and impact because Palestinians suffer because conflict is not solved unlike countries situated far from them," San Francisco university professor of politics Zunes told Trend News via E-mail.

From other side, perhaps, Ahmadinejad admitted that it would be more reasonable action for Palestinians to make decisions without imposing his plan in this direction, he said.

But experts within Iran consider that Ahmadinejad's words were incorrect interpreted by ABC TV channel.

Ahmadinejad's addressing is not sure to be recognition of Israeli regime, Iranian expert on Middle East Hassan Hanizadeh told Trend News via E-mail. Iran stands for referendum concerning territories occupied in 1948 and 1967, he said. "if the decision on creation of two states is made as a result of the referendum with participation of Christians, Muslims and Jews, the Iranian government is sure not to oppose it," Hanizadeh said. Up to now there were no changes in Iran's position regarding Palestinian issue, he said.

T.Jafarov and E.Tariverdiyeva contributed in the article.

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