Thursday 18 June, 2009

Politics
Middle East

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

By Charles Gardner

A counter-revolution is apparently building up in Iran – 30 years after the Islamic revolution swept the Shah from power – following allegedly rigged elections returning arch-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president.

Up to half-a-million Iranian students and others have taken to the streets of Tehran in protest at the outcome. Tragically, there have been reports of some being killed as the regime dither over an appropriate response.

We sympathise with the frustrations of young Iranians at the apparent injustice, not to say oppression, meted out in their nation these past few decades. And it has come to a point where many obviously feel that enough is enough, and something drastic has to be done. It is no coincidence, I’m sure, that mounting opposition to the current leaders comes at a time when, according to reports, many in the country are forsaking Islam for Christianity, an offence punishable by death in strict regimes like this.

But Iranians would do well to reflect on the injustice suffered by Israelis, who have had to endure repeated rocket fire along with threats of annihilation from Iranian leaders as well as terrorist groups they sponsor like Hamas and Hezbollah.

The whole scenario serves to bring into focus the point Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made to President Obama only last month that the issue of Iran must be dealt with before there can be peace with the Palestinians. This is because Iran supplies arms to the Palestinian leaders (Hamas) and both are committed to the destruction of Israel.

What is the point of a ‘two-state solution’ which creates a perfect platform right on your doorstep for terrorists who are determined to “wipe Israel off the map”?

It’s true Mr Netanyahu has apparently made concessions which indicate a softening in his approach towards the idea of such a solution. But he will be well aware that Iran continues openly to enrich uranium under the pretext of building nuclear power plants, with China deeply involved and North Korea supplying them with long-range missiles.

Meanwhile Israel is coming under great pressure to accept East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state which virtually amounts to giving away its ‘soul’. For more than 60 years (and millennia in terms of Jewish history), Jerusalem has formed the nucleus of Israel’s national identity and cohesion.

Mr Netanyahu told President Obama at the Washington summit: “Israel cannot take the huge risk of evacuating land just a couple of miles from the governmental centre in Jerusalem, along with disputed territory near Ben Gurion International Airport and not far from Tel Aviv and other coastal cities.”

The Iranian protestors, and all who sympathise with them, can look forward to a time of worldwide justice when, according to the Bible, Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth from Jerusalem – with equity and absolute fairness.

“He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42)

Unfortunately such a scenario will only come about after a terrible conflagration in the Middle East – something that appears to be coming to a climax right now. But the ‘Prince of Peace’ will reign in the end.

Photo: Wikipedia