Mideast Watch

Iran's Ahmadinejad Endorses Another Holocaust Denial Conference

By

January 30, 2009 RSS Feed Print
  • Comment (13)

Related Articles

By Larry Derfner, Mideast Watch

The Obama administration's expressed intention to try direct diplomacy with Iran has been rebuffed, at least publicly, by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who demanded an American "apology" for past injustices against his nation. Now, in another statement unlikely to win friends in Washington (not to mention Jerusalem), Ahmadinejad has again cast his lot with Holocaust deniers, sending a message of encouragement to a Tehran conference titled "Holocaust? A Sacred Lie by the West." The official Iran News Daily reports:

"Zionists are plundering nations' resources and their wealth by making use of politicians and political parties as well as dominating most of the world's power, wealth and media sources," said the president in a message sent to a conference on Holocaust held in the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran . . .

President Ahmadinejad added that the Zionist regime is the "illegitimate child" of the Holocaust phenomenon.

Doubts raised about U.S.-Iranian diplomacy

While Washington is given high marks for good intentions, doubts are being expressed about the chances that American diplomats can persuade Iran's leadership to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Commentator Randa Takieddine writes in the London-based Al Hayat newspaper:

It is true that there is a reformist current that wants dialogue with Washington, and another, hard-line group, which rejects this. However, all of the factions in the Islamic Republic insist on obtaining nuclear weapons. Iran looks at Pakistan, a Sunni country that has nuclear weapons, and is thus determined to not abandon enrichment, whatever it obtains from the new U.S. administration.

Obama goes back into Arab world's good books

Obama's election was greeted with elation in the Arab world, but that enthusiasm cooled as he kept mum during the Israeli war in Gaza while waiting out President George W. Bush's term. However, Obama's Muslim-friendly interview with the Dubai-based satellite TV station Al Arabiya, combined with his prompt dispatch of Lebanese-American diplomat George Mitchell to the Middle East, has raised his stock back up in the Arab world. Commentator Abdullah Iskandar writes in the Beirut-based Al Hayat newspaper:

The new American president did not hurl direct criticism at the current situation of the Arabs and Muslims; neither did he specify what is required from them, since he wanted his message—with the arrival of his envoy to the region—to be smooth and non-sensitive. However, he did not miss to say—in an implicit and diplomatic manner—that people "regardless of their faiths" must "share the same dreams and aspirations" and the ability to achieve them, thus making a clear distinction between terrorism and the point of view defending the national and humanitarian interests in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

Tags:
Middle East

Reader Comments Read all comments (13)

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

"TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRIT"

A new film on the life of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis

BY: FERN SIDMAN

Holocaust films and literature are, to say the least, depressing and devastating - how else can they be? Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis' new film entitled, "Triumph of the Spirit", however, stands alone in the genre of Holocaust documentaries. While it depicts the Holocaust in all its horror and savage brutality, its dominant theme is hope, faith, and the triumph of the Jewish spirit. The film demonstrates that the spirit of man is infinitely more powerful than Hitler or his mighty armies and that the flame of faith is more intense than the fires of the crematorium. This long awaited film is a must see for secular, religious, young and old as it speaks to every heart. While the vintage photos, the music and the images are all captivating, it is Rebbetzin Jungreis' personal story and voice that penetrates the soul and touches the deepest recesses of the heart in this compelling documentary.

In twenty minutes, the Rebbetzin conveys the history of this most satanic period in the annals of mankind in all its horrific detail, but remarkably, at the film's conclusion the audience is left inspired rather than despondent. This was recently evidenced at special screenings at the Pierre Hotel in New York City and at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem as the audience responded in unison. The Jerusalem screening saw an overflow crowd of over 1000 people and those who could not get a seat sat on the floor. Tears welled in every eye and the hushed silence in the room spoke volumes. The tears and the silence, however, were not tears of despair, but tears of pride - a determination to build a better world. This film dedicates itself to re-creating a new generation of Jews who are devoted to G-d and Torah by serving as a joyous inspiration and moral compass on the trajectory of life. "Triumph of the Spirit" can only be defined as an authentic testament to the triumph of the soul in the face of unspeakable adversities. As such, this stellar documentary has been accepted as an entry in the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival and has been entered in over 30 international film festivals.

Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis' personal saga is a welcome and urgently needed contribution to the corpus of films on the history of the Holocaust. Among the few survivors of that evil period who can still relate the story it is Rebbetzin Jungreis who has been blessed with the ability to speak to the hearts and souls of our generation. Said Rebbetzin Jungreis, "The screening of this film comes at an important time. Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the premiere Holocaust denier and rabid Jew hater will be coming to New York to speak at the same time that this film will be shown. We consider this film to be a counter protest of sorts to the venomous lies that will be spewed forth by this hater of America, Israel and the entire western world."

"Triumph of the Spirit" will premiere for the general public on Tuesday evening, September 22nd at 8:00 p.m. at the Paris Theater in Manhattan. The theater is located at 4 West 58th Street, near 5th Avenue. Following the film, the Rebbetzin will address the audience. For tickets and information, please call Hineni at 212-496-1660 or visit Hineni on the web at www.hineni.org.

Fern Sidman of NY 12:32AM August 21, 2009

The persians are a proud nation which always distingushed themselves from the Arabs. Persians with over 2,500 years civiliztion history have always contributed to the world's culture, until the last three (3) decades. The support of terrorist groups by the regime has been a shameful and regretable acts, which most inteligent and educated persians have opopsed, but unfortunately they do not have much power to prevent that, due to the dictatorship regime in Iran. In the eight(8) years war between Iran and Iraq, the Plestninans supproted Saddam Huseisn, and now the Islamic regime is using the nation's money and resorces to help the terrorist group again. In Iran right now, more than 60% live under poverty-line and some sell their dautherts to the Arabs to provide food and shelter for their families.Who deserves to be helped, the poor iranians, or the terrorist groups?

Y. Moradzadeh of CA 6:22PM February 01, 2009

this achmad can say wath he want's and one day ther will be an and with him .

their is a saying to avry dog ther is a and

mr weill of 10:10PM January 31, 2009

Mideast Watch

Mideast Watch highlights notable stories and commentary from the Israeli and Arab press. Larry Derfner covers Israel for U.S. News and World Report and is a columnist and feature writer for the Jerusalem Post.

advertisement