Iranians say Israel should be 'wiped off map' -- but not by Tehran


TEHRAN - Tens of thousands of Iranians marched in Tehran on Friday in a show of support for their president's controversial call for Israel to be "wiped off the map", yet nearly everyone insisted the Islamic republic was not about to attack the Jewish state. Protestors out on "Jerusalem Day" insisted that the remark was merely a slogan -- and displayed little concern over an international outcry and renewed charges that their clerical leadership is seeking nuclear weapons. Attending the annual event, which was heavy on bloodthirsty rhetoric but also had something of a carnival atmosphere, were "candidates for martyrdom" -- or men in fancy dress as Palestinian suicide bombers. Strapped around their waists were mock explosives, and on their shoulders were white robes splashed with red paint. The effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was burned, as were the flags of the United States, Israel and Britain. "Death to America, Death to Israel", the crowds chanted, yet more slogans the regime usually insists should not be taken too literally. Another slogan heard was "every Iranian is an atomic bomb" -- alongside another proclaiming that "peaceful nuclear energy is our legitimate right". "All Iranians think like Ahmadinejad," argued Seyed Mohammadi, a 40-year-old member of the Basij militia's "Martyrdom Candidates Brigade". "If we are given the order to fight, we will do it. But we are not partisans of war. We want peace in the world," said the militiaman, who was also dressed up as a suicide bomber. "What Ahmadinejad said is the sentiment of all Iranians," agreed Amir Hosseini, a 45-year-old Revolutionary Guards officer taking part in the rally. But he added there was "no need for military action" against Israel. "What Ahmadinejad said was that elections should be held for Palestinian self-determination," he said, repeating what Iranian diplomats maintain was the true thrust of Ahmadinejad's fiery speech. One Shiite clergyman taking part, Mehdi Abu Talebi, told AFP that the real issue was that of "the genocide of the Palestinians" -- adding that he also had "no doubts" that the holocaust under Germany's Nazi regime never happened. "Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth. What is happening in Palestine is the fight between Islam and the infidels," said the turbaned cleric. "But that does not mean that we want to kill Israelis." Mohammad, a state employee in his 50s, agreed. "Iranians have lived with Jews for hundreds of years. What Ahmadinejad said was not about Israel but about the Israeli government. Iran does not intend to attack Israel because it has only ever defended itself," he argued. Only one person was found who openly called for the literal destruction of Israel by Iran -- a 40-year-old woman dressed in the customary all-black chador. "All Iranians want war with Israel. This war will be more important than that against Iraq," said Fatemeh Vahdanifar, referring to the devastating 1980-88 war between Iran and its western neighbour. The final declaration issued by the organisers of the Tehran rally also backed up the president, an austere hardliner and war veteran who has revived the slogans used so frequently in the wake of Iran's 1979 revolution. "We totally support what Ahmadinejad said, because it is the definitive religious opinion of the Imam and the supreme leader," it said, recalling the positions of Iran's revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his successor as supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We say to the UN that the best solution is the return of all Palestinians to their land and the staging of free elections."