Televised Remarks on the Occasion of World Al-Quds Day

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family and his chosen companions, and those who follow them with goodness until the Day of Judgment.

I send greetings to all Muslim brothers and sisters around the world and pray for the acceptance of their acts of worship during the blessed month of Ramadan. I congratulate them in advance on the arrival of the joyous Eid al-Fitr and thank the Generous Lord for the blessing of being present in this month of divine hospitality.

Today is Al-Quds Day; a day that, through the wise initiative of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), was established as a connecting link for the solidarity of Muslims regarding the holy Quds and the oppressed Palestine. Over these decades, it has played a significant role in this regard and will continue to do so, God willing. Nations have welcomed Al-Quds Day and have honored it as the first obligatory task, which is to keep the flag of Palestine's freedom raised. The main policy of global arrogance and Zionism is to diminish the issue of Palestine in the minds of Muslim societies and to push it towards oblivion. The most urgent duty is to combat this treachery that is perpetrated by the political and cultural mercenaries of the enemy within the Islamic countries themselves. The truth is that an issue as great as that of Palestine is not something that the honor, self-confidence, and increasing intelligence of Muslim nations will allow to be forgotten, even if America and other arrogant powers and their regional lackeys employ all their money and power for that purpose.

The first point is to remind everyone of the magnitude of the catastrophe of the usurpation of Palestine and the establishment of the cancerous Zionist entity there. Among the human crimes of recent times, there is no crime of this scale and intensity. The usurpation of a country and the permanent expulsion of its people from their homes and ancestral lands, accompanied by the most horrific types of murder and crime, and the decades-long continuation of this historical oppression, truly sets a new record for the savagery and devilishness of humanity.

The main perpetrator and criminal behind this catastrophe was the Western governments and their devilish policies. On the day when the victorious powers of World War I divided the territory of the Ottoman Empire in West Asia as the most important war booty at the Paris Conference, they increasingly felt the need for a secure base in the heart of this region to ensure their permanent domination. Britain had long prepared the ground for this with the Balfour Declaration and, in collaboration with Jewish financiers, had set the stage for the emergence of a phenomenon called Zionism; and now the practical grounds for it were being laid. From those years, they gradually assembled the prerequisites, and ultimately, after the Second World War, taking advantage of the negligence and entanglements of the regional governments, they struck their blow and announced the fake regime and the state without a nation of the Zionists. The primary target of this blow was the Palestinian nation and, subsequently, all the nations of this region.

Looking at subsequent events in the region shows that the main and immediate goal of the Westerners and Jewish capitalists in establishing the Zionist state was to create a base for their permanent presence and influence in West Asia and to have close access for intervention and imposition of control over the countries and governments of this region. Therefore, they equipped the fake and usurping regime with various power-generating capabilities—both military and non-military—even nuclear weapons, and included the growth of this cancerous entity in their plans from the Nile to the Euphrates.

Unfortunately, most Arab governments, after the initial resistances, some of which were commendable, gradually surrendered, especially after the entry of the United States as the custodian of the issue, forgetting both their human, Islamic, and political duties, as well as their Arab honor and pride, and aided the enemy's goals with vain hopes. The Camp David Accords are a clear example of this bitter reality.

The resistance groups, after some self-sacrificing struggles in the early years, were gradually drawn into the fruitless path of negotiations with the occupier and its supporters, abandoning the course that could have led to the realization of the Palestinian aspiration. Negotiating with America and other Western governments, as well as with ineffective international bodies, is the bitter and unsuccessful experience of Palestine. Showing the olive branch at the United Nations General Assembly yielded nothing but the disastrous Oslo Accords and ultimately led to the cautionary fate of Yasser Arafat.

The dawn of the Islamic Revolution in Iran opened a new chapter in the struggle for Palestine. From the very first steps, namely expelling the Zionist elements who considered pre-revolutionary Iran one of their secure bases and handing over the unofficial embassy of the Zionist regime to the Palestinian representation, to significant actions and extensive political activities, all contributed to the emergence of the "Resistance Front" throughout the region and blossomed hope for resolving the issue in the hearts of people. With the emergence of the Resistance Front, the situation for the Zionist regime became increasingly difficult—and, God willing, it will become much harder in the future—but the efforts of its supporters, led by America, to defend it have also intensified sharply. The emergence of the faithful, young, and self-sacrificing force of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the formation of motivated groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad within the borders of Palestine have not only unsettled the Zionist leaders but also the Americans and other Western aggressors, placing the recruitment from within the region and the Arab community at the top of their agendas after providing hardware and software support for the usurping regime. The result of their extensive efforts is now evident in the behavior and speech of some leaders of Arab governments and certain treacherous political and cultural activists.

Today, diverse activities are emerging from both sides in the arena of struggle, with the difference that the Resistance Front is moving towards empowerment, increasing hope, and attracting more elements of power, while conversely, the front of oppression, disbelief, and arrogance is becoming increasingly empty, hopeless, and weaker day by day. A clear sign of this claim is that the Zionist army, which was once considered an invincible and lightning-fast army that could halt the armies of two invading countries within days, today finds itself forced to retreat and admit defeat against the popular resistance forces in Lebanon and Gaza. Nevertheless, the arena of struggle is extremely perilous and changeable, requiring constant vigilance, and the subject of this struggle is of utmost importance, decisive, and vital. Any negligence, complacency, or error in fundamental calculations will incur heavy losses.

Based on this, I offer several recommendations to all those who are concerned about the issue of Palestine:

1) The struggle for the freedom of Palestine is a jihad in the way of God and an Islamic obligation and demand. Victory in such a struggle is guaranteed, for the fighter, even if killed, has attained one of the two good outcomes. Besides this, the issue of Palestine is a humanitarian issue; the expulsion of millions of people from their homes, farms, and places of livelihood, accompanied by murder and crime, disturbs and affects every human conscience and compels it to resist if it possesses determination and courage. Therefore, limiting it to merely a Palestinian issue and at most an Arab one is a grave error. Those who consider the compromise of a few Palestinian elements or the rulers of a few Arab countries as a justification to bypass this Islamic and humanitarian issue are severely mistaken in their understanding of the matter and may even be guilty of distorting it.

2) The goal of this struggle is the freedom of all Palestinian territory—from the sea to the river—and the return of all Palestinians to their homeland. Reducing it to the establishment of a state in a corner of this land, in a humiliating manner as described in the literature of the rude Zionists, is neither a sign of justice nor a sign of realism. The reality is that today millions of Palestinians have reached a level of thought, experience, and self-confidence that they can make this great jihad their focus, and they can certainly be assured of divine assistance and ultimate victory, as He said: "And indeed, Allah will support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise"; (1) undoubtedly many Muslims around the world will assist them and sympathize with them, God willing.

3) Although utilizing any permissible and legitimate means in this struggle is allowed, including global support, it is imperative to avoid reliance on Western governments and also on international bodies that are apparently or secretly dependent on them. They are enemies of every influential Islamic entity; they are indifferent to the rights of humans and nations; they themselves are responsible for the greatest damages and crimes against the Islamic Ummah; which of the global institutions or which criminal power is currently accountable for the assassinations, massacres, warmongering, bombings, and artificial famines in several Islamic and Arab countries?

Today, the world counts the number of victims of COVID-19 across the globe one by one, but no one has asked or is asking who the killer and responsible for the hundreds of thousands of martyrs, captives, and missing persons in the countries where America and Europe have ignited the flames of war is? Who is responsible for all this unjustly spilled blood in Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Syria, and other countries? Why has no one counted these millions of innocent children, women, and men in the Islamic world? Why does no one express condolences for the massacre of Muslims? Why must millions of Palestinians be away from their homes and live in exile for seventy years? And why must the holy Quds—the first Qibla of Muslims—be insulted? The so-called United Nations does not fulfill its duty, and the so-called human rights organizations are dead. The slogan "defending the rights of children and women" does not include the oppressed children and women of Yemen and Palestine. Such is the condition of the oppressive Western powers and their dependent global organizations; the situation of some of their follower governments in the region is even more disgraceful and shameful than can be expressed. Therefore, the zealous and religious Muslim community must rely on itself and its inner strength; it must extend its powerful hand from its sleeve and, with trust and reliance on God, overcome the obstacles.

4) An important point that should not escape the attention of the political and military elites of the Islamic world is the policy of America and the Zionists in transferring conflicts to the rear of the Resistance Front. The instigation of civil wars in Syria, the military siege and daily massacres in Yemen, the assassination and destruction, and the creation of ISIS in Iraq, and similar issues in some other countries in the region are all tricks to distract the Resistance Front and provide opportunities for the Zionist regime. Some politicians in Muslim countries, knowingly or unknowingly, have fallen into the trap of these enemy tricks. The way to prevent the implementation of this wicked policy is primarily through the serious demands and aspirations of the zealous youth across the Islamic world. Youth in all Islamic countries, especially Arab ones, must not forget the great recommendation of Imam Khomeini, who said: "Whatever you have to shout, shout it at America—and also, of course, at the Zionist enemy."

5) The policy of normalizing the presence of the Zionist regime in the region is one of the main policies of the United States of America. Some Arab governments in the region, which play the role of America's lackeys, have been preparing the necessary groundwork for this, such as economic communications and the like; these efforts are entirely fruitless and unproductive. The Zionist regime is a malignant and harmful offshoot for this region and will undoubtedly be uprooted and eliminated, and disgrace and shame will remain for those who have placed their resources in the service of this arrogant policy. Some justify this ugly behavior by arguing that the Zionist regime is a reality in the region, without recalling that one must fight against and eliminate malignant and harmful realities. Today, COVID-19 is a reality, and all conscious humans consider fighting it obligatory. The enduring virus of Zionism will undoubtedly not last long from now on and will be uprooted from this region through the efforts, faith, and honor of the youth.

6) My primary recommendation is to continue the struggle and organize jihadist organizations and foster their cooperation with one another and expand the scope of jihad across all Palestinian territories. Everyone must support the Palestinian nation in this sacred jihad. Everyone must empower the Palestinian fighter and strengthen his back. We will proudly do whatever we can in this path. One day we recognized that the Palestinian fighter has faith, honor, and courage, and his only problem is his empty hand without weapons. With divine guidance and assistance, we planned, and the result is that the balance of power in Palestine has changed, and today Gaza can stand against the military aggression of the Zionist enemy and achieve victory over it. This change in the equation in the so-called occupied territories will be able to bring the Palestinian issue closer to its final steps. The Palestinian Authority has a significant responsibility in this matter. One cannot speak with a savage enemy except from a position of power and authority, and the grounds for this authority, thanks be to God, are prepared in the brave and resilient Palestinian nation. Palestinian youth today are eager to defend their dignity. Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon have made the argument clear to all. The world has not forgotten and will not forget the day when the Zionist army broke through the borders of Lebanon and advanced to Beirut, and the day when the criminal killer named Ariel Sharon caused a bloodbath in Sabra and Shatila, and it has not forgotten and will not forget the day when this same army, under the crushing blows of Hezbollah, had no choice but to retreat with heavy casualties and admit defeat, begging for a ceasefire; a full hand and a position of power—that is what it means. Now let that European government, which should be eternally ashamed for selling chemical materials to the Saddam regime, consider the proud, self-sacrificing Hezbollah illegal. The illegal regime is one like America that produces ISIS and a regime like that European government that has caused thousands to die in Baneh, Iran, and Halabja, Iraq, due to its chemical materials.

7) The final word is that Palestine belongs to the Palestinians and must be governed by their will. The proposal for a referendum among all religions and ethnicities of Palestine—which we presented nearly two decades ago—is the only outcome that should be derived from the challenges of today and tomorrow for Palestine. This proposal shows that the claim of anti-Semitism that the Westerners repeat with their horns is entirely baseless. In this proposal, Palestinian Jews, Christians, and Muslims will participate together in a referendum and determine the political system of the country of Palestine; what must certainly go is the Zionist regime, and Zionism itself is a deviation in the religion of Judaism and is completely foreign to it.

In conclusion, I honor the memory of the martyrs of Quds, from Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Fathi Shaqaqi and Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, to the great martyr of Islam and the unforgettable face of resistance, Martyr Qassem Soleimani, and the great Iraqi martyr, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and other martyrs of Quds, and I send greetings to the soul of Imam Khomeini (may his great soul be sanctified) who opened the path of dignity and jihad for us, and I also pray for the martyred brother, the late Hossein Sheikh al-Islam, who worked for years in this path. Finally, I say to all dear viewers and listeners, this year’s Al-Quds Day is the first [Al-Quds Day] without our dear Qassem Soleimani; for the joy of his soul, let us all recite one Alhamdulillah and one Qul Huwa Allah: In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (1) All praise is due to God, the Lord of the worlds (2) The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (3) Master of the Day of Judgment (4) You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help (5) Guide us on the straight path (6) The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray (7) In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One (1) Allah, the Eternal Refuge (2) He neither begets nor is born (3) Nor is there to Him any equivalent." (4)

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.