From: joedees@bellsouth.net
Date: Sun Sep 01 2002 - 19:07:54 MDT
Iran Increases Funding and Training for Suicide Bombings
Islamic Jihad Leader: The Intifada Foiled the American
Plots Against Iraq. A Hizbullah Leader on the Iranian-
Syrian-Lebanese-Palestinian Axis
Correspondent 'Ali Nouri Zadeh, of the the Saudi London-based
Arabic-language daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reports from London
on recent developments regarding Iranian support of Palestinian
organizations:
Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority Meet in
Iran
"Iran has decided to increase its financial aid to some
organizations that oppose peace efforts in the Middle East. Iran
has allocated a special budget for the support of some Palestinian
groups who lost their sources of funding when the Soviet Union
and the communist bloc collapsed, and when Libya stopped
providing material support to the Palestinian organizations."
"A source very close to the Revolutionary Guards said that the
leader of the [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad movement, Ramadhan
Shalah, had visited Iran last week heading a large delegation that
included the Islamic Jihad leadership, Hamas representatives,
and Ahmad Jibril, leader of the PFLP - General Command, to
participate in a symposium held in Tehran in support of the
Intifada."
"The Palestinian Authority was represented by PA
Communication Minister Imad Al-Falluji."
"[The symposium] was overseen by 'Ali Akbar Muhtashemi,
former Iranian ambassador to Syria and interior minister,
known as 'the midwife of Hizbullah' due to his role in the
movement's off shoot from Syrian backed Lebanese movement."
"[Shalah] met twice with Supreme [Iranian] Leader 'Ali
Khamenei who promised him that his movement's budget would
be separated from the Hizbullah budget, and would be expanded
by 70% to cover the expense of recruiting young Palestinians for
suicide operations."
Iranian Support of Islamic Jihad Separated from Hizbullah
"Iran has taken upon itself financing the Islamic Jihad movement,
since its founding¦ However, the movement's budget was
transferred to it via Hizbullah, whose budget (disbursed through
Iranian institutions such as Al-Wali Al-Faqih office, and the
Liberation Organizations Bureau of the Revolutionary
Guards, in addition to the Al-Quds Forces) - exceeded $200
million."
"Last year, disagreement broke out between Hizbullah's financial
apparatus and the person in charge of funds in the Islamic Jihad
organization. As a result, the Islamic Jihad heads demanded that
the Iranian institutions funding them draw up a movement budget
that would be under its leadership's direct supervision."
"Al-Sharq Al-Awsat learned that the Supreme Leader [Khamenei]
ordered the immediate transfer of a huge sum to the financial
apparatus of the Islamic Jihad. The anticipated aid will be passed
on to several Palestinian figures who visited Tehran in recent
weeks."
"According to a Revolutionary Guards source, the Al-Quds Forces
will continue training Islamic Jihad fighters inside Iran, while
Col. 'Ali Reza Tamiz, one of the commanders of the Al-Quds
Forces' technological team, will remain responsible for training
Hizbullah members and training them in the use of advanced
equipment and weaponry, including Ra'ad missiles, Shahin
launchers, and surface-to-air missiles recently received by
Hizbullah."
"With regard to the Hizbullah budget increase, the source said, the
[Hizbullah] receives, in addition to its annual budget diverse aid
from religious, economic, and government institutions in Iran.
Every month, institutions such as Al-Shahid, Imdad Al-Imam, and
Al-Mustaz'afin Fund transfer phenomenal financial aid to the
families of the Hizbullah martyrs, wounded, and handicapped."[1]
An Islamic Jihad leader denied the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat report,
saying that his movement "does not work for any regime in the
world."[2]
Islamic Jihad Leader: "Allah¦ Anger America and Make Us
Blow Up in the Heart of this Cursed Zionist Entity"
Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Abdallah Shalah, focused in his
speech on President Bush's statements against suicide bombings:
"¦If America is the one to divide the world into the 'camp of the
good' and the 'camp of the evil,' and if it puts the Palestinian
people and its Jihad fighters on the evil side, claiming that the
martyrs are evil, then we say: 'Allah, make us all evil, [make us
all] anger America and blow up in the heart of this cursed Zionist
entity¦'"
"America, the West, or any country in the world, has no moral
right to decide whether a Palestinian has the right to blow himself
up... or not. Why isn't America objecting when someone
American or European contributes millions of dollars for dogs and
cats? No one tells him - why are you giving up your wealth for the
sake of dogs and cats? We are the owners of our souls... no one
has the right to object to us giving away our souls and turning
them into human bombs for a cause we consider more important
and more sacred than our lives."
Referring to American calls for reform in the Palestinian
Authority, Shalah said: "Who amongst us doesn't want reform?
Who amongst us isn't against corruption? But when reform is
raised today - it is [only] a cover for the American-Israeli plan to
dismantle the unity of the Palestinian people... This kind of
reform, we reject. We all know the PA¦ we all blamed Arafat for
corruption¦ But [now] we say, if for the sake of reform, we have
to give up the Intifada, the resistance, and the Jihad warriors -
then we would rather have Arafat's corruption continue... We have
suffered many years from corruption and will continue to suffer
more and more in order to have the resistance continue."
The Intifada Defended Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon
Shalah also referred to the postponement of the American plan to
attack Iraq as a result of the escalation in the Palestinian
territories: "The Intifada foiled the American plots and defended
the whole Arab nation. It defended Iraq, Syria, Lebanon..."
Deputy Secretary General of Hizbullah, Sheik Na'im Qasem
quoted Imam Khomeini in a speech:
"All of Palestine is plundered. There is no difference between the
'48 territories and the '67 territories. I ask the Muslims, why are
you fighting over the Jordan River when all of Palestine is
plundered?" Muslims Should Annihilate Israel
"Israel's danger is not limited to Palestine¦ It spreads to the
whole region. Imam Khomeini said: 'The goal of this virus [Israel]
that was planted in the heart of the Islamic world, is not only to
annihilate the Arab nation¦ The danger is to the whole Middle
East¦ and the solution is in annihilating the virus. There is no
other treatment¦ The Islamic states and the Muslims should
initiate the annihilation of this den of corruption [Israel] in every
possible way¦
It is permitted to use charity money for that purpose. Imam
Khomeini led this way¦ All [Western] hopes in every Iranian
election to see a change in this direction have failed¦ President
Khatami upholds the same position [despite] international
pressures."
"The struggle against Israel is no picnic. It demands great
sacrifices, but when I see a mother saying goodbye to her son,
awaiting his return as a shahid, [I know that] the Palestinian
people is a people of Jihad warriors and it will surely win."
"We have to maintain the Iranian-Syrian-Lebanese-Palestinian
axis. Our enemy cannot counter us when we are united¦"[3]
In an event hosted by the Iranian-Palestinian Friendship
Society,[4] Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Muhammad Sadr
said: "The Islamic Republic of Iran placed Palestine as a top
priority in its strategic policy."[5]
The Intifada is a New Phase of the Iranian Revolution
Imam Khomeini's grandson Hassan Khomeini, who moderated
the event, also referred to the connection between the Iranian
regime and the Palestinian struggle:
"There is a strong connection between the Intifada and the Islamic
revolution in Iran. It is a connection between two revolutions...
The huge Iranian Islamic revolution had an impact on the whole
history, it revived religious conviction and stated that religion can
play a meaningful role in all aspects of life."
"The Intifada of the Muslim Palestinian people should be looked
upon from the Islamic perspective after all nationalistic
movements and communist trends have been defeated after
reaching a dead end. The Intifada is the beginning of the way
towards a new phase in the historic revolution of Imam Khomeini.
We say, as Imam Khomeini said, that Israel should be wiped off
the face of the earth and Jerusalem should go back to the Muslims
because it belongs to them¦"[6]
[1] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), June 8, 2002.
[2] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), June 9, 2002.
[3] Al Manar Television (Lebanon-Hizbullah), June 2, 2002.
[4] The creation of this association reflects Iran's enhanced
involvement in the Palestinian issue. It was inaugurated on June
6th, the day on which the Six Day War broke out, and is headed by
former Iranian ambassador to Beirut Humayun Ali Zadeh.
[5] Al-Hayat (London), June 7, 2002.
[6] Al-Hayat (London), June 7, 2002.
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