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Victory Is Near

ISSN : 1019 - 0775 No. 267 . May 2020 www.echoofislam.com Imam Khomeini: if all the came together and each one of them threw a bucket of water over Is- rael, it would Ayatollah Khamenei: be washed will not exist in away. 25 years.

Seyed Hassan Nasrollah: Israel is unable to fight face to face and is more feeble than cobweb.

Major General Soleymani: We will make earth and heavens hell for Zion- We target Quds. ists. ECHOof Islam

No. 267 . May 2020

Managing Director: Muhammad Assadi Movahed [email protected]

Editor: Saeed Kalati

An Introduction to International al-Quds Day 4 Editorial Board: Yuram Abdullah Weiler, Bakyt koja Rustamov, Akiva Eldar, Yusuf Intl. Quds Day Rallies Proved Imam Khomeini’s Popularity 8 Abdullah, Thierry Meyssan, Binoy Kamp- Quds Day Message : The Occupied West Bank Is NOT 10 mark, Israeli Heartland Public Relations Manager: Maryam Imam Khomeini Is A Leader Who Emerges Every Thou- 16 Hamzelou sand Years Once Designer: Zahra Salari The ‘Deal of the Century’ or the ‘Bluff of the Millennium’? 20 Magazine of ITF , Tehran, Quds Day is the only Measure Relevant for Quds Libera- 24 Islamic Republic of , tion Tel: +9821-88934302 , +9821-88934303 Fax: +9821-88902725 The Deal of the Century Is a Vile Plot and People Should 30 Website: http://alhoda.ir Revolt To Nip It in the Bud http://www.itfjournals.com Illegality of US Foreign Policy, Pre-emptive Force and Qa- 36 http://echoofislam.itfjournals.com sem Soleimani Email: [email protected] ECHO

An Introduction to International al-Quds Day

-the rights of oppressed Muslims to country, if the last day of Ra (يوم القدس :Al-Quds Day (Arabic is the last Friday of the month of around the world - particularly in madan is a Friday or Saturday in on which demonstra- Palestine. On this day, rallies are Iran, al-Quds day will be held the tions are held across the world organized before Friday Prayer to week before. In some countries, to protest against the occupation protest against the occupation of due to lack of police authorization of Palestine. Soon after the Is- Palestine and the oppression of its on Friday, the rally is made on an- lamic revolution in Iran, Imam people. other day or there is only permis- Khomeini called on Muslims to Since the end of the month of sion for holding conferences on dedicate this day to demanding Ramadan can vary from country that day.

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History darity of Muslims world-wide, an- Imam Khomeini's Speeches Since the occupation of Palestine nounce their support for the legiti- on Al-Quds Day began in 1948, most religious mate rights of the Muslim people. • Al-Quds Day is an international scholars have been demanding I ask God Almighty for the victory day and is not exclusive to Quds. justice for the Palestinian people. of the Muslims over the infidels. It is the day of confronting the op- From the beginning of Iran's Is- A Day beyond Islamic Coun- pressed with the arrogant; it is the lamic Revolution, Imam Khomei- tries day of encountering the nations ni (RA) stated that one of his goals On al-Quds day, demonstrations oppressed by America or else; it was the liberation of Palestine are held around the world in over is a day for the oppressed to be from its occupant government. Af- 80 Islamic and non-Islamic coun- prepared against the arrogant to ter the revolution, all official ties tries. Among these are Malaysia, defeat them. to Israel were broken and Israel's India, Singapore, Indonesia, Tur- • Al-Quds Day is not only for embassy in Iran was granted to the key, of America, Quds; it is the day for Islam; it is . When a new Israeli , Norway, Azerbaijan, Su- the day for Islamic government. It raid began on the south of Leba- dan, England, Bahrain, Bosnia, is the day on which the flag for Is- non on Ramadan 13, 1399/August Tunisia, Pakistan, Australia, Ger- lamic government must be raised. 7, 1979, Imam Khomeini gave a many, Romania, , Spain, It is the day on which, superpow- speech in which he announced the South Africa, , Venezuela, ers need to be taught that they last Friday of the month of Rama- Albania, and Greece. can no longer advance in Islamic dan to be known as 'al-Quds Day': Western news agencies generally countries. I know al-Quds Day as In the name of Allah the All-Com- attempt to play down the events the day of Islam and the day of the passionate, the Most Merciful of 'Al-Quds day'. They either re- Prophet (PBUH); the day which For many years, I have been no- main silent or use vague expres- we need to fully prepare ourselves tifying the Muslims of the danger sions such as 'thousands' to show and relieve Muslims from the iso- posed by the usurper Israel which that the number of protesters is not lation they are brought in so that today has intensified its savage significant. Typically, a few sen- they can stand against their en- attacks against the Palestinian tences from the Iranian president's emies with all their power. brothers and sisters, and which, in speech are quoted out of context in • Al-Quds Day is when we must the south of in particular, order to give the impression that warn all superpowers that Islam is continually bombing Palestin- Israel is being oppressed. will no longer be controlled by ian homes in the hope of crushing Goals you through your evil agents; al- the Palestinian struggle. • It is the day the oppressed stand Quds Day is the day of Islam's life. I ask all the Muslims of the world up against their oppressors; • Al-Quds Day is an Islamic day and the Muslim governments to • It is the day the oppressed Pal- and is an Islamic public mobiliza- join together to sever the hand of estinians feel supported by other tion. I hope it would be a prelude this usurper and its supporters. nations; to [formation of] a party of the op- I call on all the Muslims of the • It is the day to stop the omission pressed all over the world. world to select as al-Quds Day of the name of Palestine from geo- • If the Islamic ummah are not wo- the last Friday in the holy month graphical maps; ken up to their duties, if Islamic of Ramadan — which is itself a • It is the day to pump fresh blood scholars do not feel responsible determining period and can also into the veins of Muslim nations; and do not rise, if the true Islam be the determiner of the Palestin- • It is the day Muslim nations speak which is the cause of unity and ian people's fate — and through a their words directly - not through movement of all Islamic schools ceremony demonstrating the soli- their government officials. against the enemies and the guar-

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antee of honor and independence of Muslim nations and Islamic countries is burned under the black screens of imperialism by the hands of the agents of the enemies, miserable days will be ahead of Islamic nations and destruc- tion threatens Islam and rulings of the Qur'an. • It is strongly recommended and even obligatory that some of religious alms such as zakat and other types of charity are allocated to these fighters who fight for God in sufficient amount and help- ing them with all forces and facilities is obligatory. Ayatullah Khamene'i's Speeches on Al-Quds Day • What is important is that the world of Islam should not forget about the issue of Palestine… the US, the arro- gant powers and constant supporters of Zionists have forced Muslims to forget the issue of Palestine but the Islamic Ummah and the Iranians should not al- low the issue of Palestine to be forgot- ten. • This holy flame should be ignited in- side Palestine as well more and more every day. Those youth, and those men and women, and those who sacrifice themselves and fight the usurper re- gime inside Palestine must know that the main point is what they press. That is where their enemy would defeat. That organizations outside Palestinian borders sit at the table of negotiations or show off in different tribunes in the name of Palestine would not solve any problem. General support of the Islam- ic world from outside and the real sen- sible fight of Palestinians inside will solve the problem and hit the head of the enemy to ground. • Commemorate al-Quds Day and if

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world propaganda does not broadcast it, it does not matter. Those Palestin- ian prisoners feel strengthened by your sincere intention and determination and will resist. The prisoner behind the walls of the prisons at the Occu- pied Palestine must not feel lonely to resist. Those men and women who are attacked by Zionist scum in alleys and streets of , and other cities of the Occupied Palestine need to feel that you support them to resist. Of course, governments have some duties as well! • I frankly announce that every Pales- tinian who is martyred and every Pal- estinian family which is destroyed, the President of the United States and its government associated in that act. • The issue of Palestine has only one solution and that is establishment of a Palestinian government in all the lands of Palestine. • Every inch of Palestine is an inch of Muslims' house. Any government other than a Palestinian one and other than a Muslim one over Palestine is a usurper one. Our word is what Imam Khomeini said that, "Israel must be wiped away". It is not fighting with Jews. The issue is usurping house of Muslims. Al-Quds Day in the Speeches of Others Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hizballah of Lebanon, "the priority must be stressing on confron- tation with the Zionist enemy and if it was this way from beginning, we would not come to this point today… If 'Arabs spent one fifth of the budget they spent for war on Iran and Shia- phobia for Palestine, it would already be free." Source: wikishia.net

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Intl. Quds Day Rallies Proved Imam Khomeini's Popularity

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Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatol- sistance inspired other nations to The important fact is that Imam lah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that follow it. didn’t choose resistance based on after 40 years that Imam Khomeini emotions but there is a logic behind initiated Quds Day, this year's ral- this decision, Ayatollah Khamenei lies proved that he is popular across stressed, noting that the only way the world. to stop enemies from moving for- He made the remarks in the cer- ward is to stand strong. emony of marking the 30th death Resistance has its costs but the anniversary of Islamic Revolution price for surrendering is much founder Imam Khomeini, in Imam higher than that, he said, adding, Khomeini Mausoleum, southern Saudi regime does what US dic- Tehran, with senior officials of the tates yet it is repeatedly humiliated country in attendance. Imam Khomeini was a pi- by Washington. The popularity of Imam Khomeini ous man who was hon- Yielding to the idea that resistance was proven in International Quds est with people, the leader in the face of world bullying pow- Day rallies across the world, he added while explaining the ers is useless is a big mistake, highlighted, adding that US and its Leader maintained. secret of Imam Khomeini’s cronies want to eliminate the Pal- The resistant front is more coor- popularity. estinian cause. dinated than ever in the region, he One of the salient charac- Many efforts have been made in said, noting that the Israeli regime's teristics of Imam was ‘re- the past 30 years to fade Imam’s power has declined in the past 40 goals, but the fact is that Imam’s sistance’, highlighted Aya- years as a result. attractions have been increased, he tollah Khomeini, adding, US economic power has declined said. enemies could not disrupt in a number of ways over the past Imam Khomeini was a pious man Imam’s calculating sys- decades, Ayatollah Khamenei said, who was honest with people, the tems. adding that US political power is leader added while explaining the also declining and the election of secret of Imam Khomeini’s popu- Donald Trump is a good sign of larity. this fact. One of the salient characteristics of "We have problems in Iran but Imam was ‘resistance’, highlighted there is no impasse." Ayatollah Khomeini, adding, ene- The goal of the resistance is to mies could not disrupt Imam’s cal- reach a point of deterrence in all culating systems. fields, he said, highlighting that Imam followed Quran’s guidelines Iran now has reached military de- not to get along oppressors while terrence power. Iran's missile pow- colonial systems were based on er is a very important deterrence oppressing other nations, he said, factor and enemies cannot take it noting that enemies couldn’t stand from the Iranian nation, he added. Imam’s approach. He went on to say that Iran can con- Iran doesn’t want to export its tinue to progress if US stays away, revolution, rather it is an idea that noting that wherever US goes there nations could adopt, he said, not- will be war and colonialism. ing that Iranians adherence to re- Source: Mehr News Agency

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Yuram Abdullah Weiler

Quds Day Message: The Occupied West Bank Is NOT Israeli Heartland 10 No. 267. May 2020 ECHO ECHO

Another Quds Day has passed. ments has mushroomed. also an adviser to Trump’s 2016 People around the world took to The U.S. state of Texas seems to election campaign. Apparently, he the streets to stand in solidarity be a haven for Christian Zionist views Texas as a mirror image of with the Palestinian People, and to supporters of the Israeli Apartheid the Israeli entity, complete with condemn the ongoing Zionist oc- regime. Governor Greg Abbot of apartheid walls and likewise under cupation of the Palestinian home- Texas has even gone so far as to constant threat of invasions by the land. Their message was clear: the proclaim, “Any anti-Israel policy “other.” Mohamad Fattouh, an ex- Occupied West Bank is not the Is- is an anti-Texas policy.” Striv- ecutive board member of Students raeli heartland. ing to steer the discourse from for Justice in Palestine at the Uni- Established in 1979 by Imam Kho- condemnation and censure to out- versity of Houston explained, “We meini, the founder of the Islamic right approval and overt political put such heavy emphasis on our Republic, Quds Day provides an support for Israeli policies of il- law enforcement here [in Texas], annual opportunity for Muslims legal settlement expansion, these on ICE, on securing the border, a and other people of conscience evangelical extremists believe wall; all things that are mirrored in to express their outrage over the they have found another “Cyrus” Israel.” more than 70 years of ongoing personified in Donald Trump. At Growing in strength each year, the Israeli injustice to Palestinians. a recent gathering of like-minded Boycott, Divestment and Sanc- In sharp contrast, U.S. President militant Christians in San Anto- tions (BDS) movement seeks to Donald Trump and his son-in-law, nio, former U.S. Congresswoman impose an economic penalty on Jared Kushner, seem intent on le- Michelle Bachman speculated that the Israeli regime for its intransi- gitimatizing the Zionist land grab Trump was an agent of God in ful- gent and uncivilized behavior to- of occupied Palestinian territory, filling Biblical prophecies. wards Palestinians. As BDS has which has even been referred to as Demonstrating his unabashed ap- gathered momentum, Zionists “the heartland of Israel” in a Texas proval, Texas agriculture commis- have pushed back aided by right- department of agriculture news re- sioner Sid Miller has signed an leaning, evangelical Christian Zi- lease. agreement to open trade relations onists, such as Robert Jeffress and The last half-hearted effort against with the Shomron Regional Coun- John Hagee, who view the Israeli illegal settlements on Palestinian cil, which provides services to 35 entity as a fulfillment of Biblical lands occurred during the admin- illegal settlements in the Occupied prophecy. Pastors Jeffress and istration of George H.W. Bush, West Bank. An Israeli official en- Hagee, the former being a senior who withheld loan guarantees thusiastically praised Miller, who leader of the 13,000-member First from the Israeli entity. “We have a also serves as an elder for the Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas longstanding policy that feels that Cowboy Church of Erath County and a Fox News contributor, and settlements are counterproductive in Stephenville, Texas, for under- the latter being the founder of the to peace,” Bush insisted. “This is a standing that “there is no dispute extreme anti-Palestinian Chris- longstanding policy, and I am de- about this region in the eyes of tians United for Israel, led prayers termined to see that that policy not God.” It appears that Miller does at the opening of the U.S. embassy be altered.” Unfortunately, succes- not understand the prohibition in Al Quds in May of 2018. sive U.S. administrations have not against using state funds for per- An indicator of the success of shared even this lukewarm level sonal trips, however, and has been the BDS movement is the draco- of political determination, and, of slapped with a $500 fine by the nian legislation being pushed by course, under the auspices of the Texas Ethics Commission. the Zionist lobby in its strategy current Washington regime, the “I think we have a lot in common to conflate criticism of the Israeli number of illegal Israeli settle- with Israel,” said Miller, who was regime with anti-Semitism. Laws

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have been passed in 27 states, and are pending in 14 others, requiring individuals and companies doing business with the respective states to disavow any and all activity in, or in support of, boycotts targeting the Israeli entity and Israeli com- panies. In Texas, speech therapist Bahia Amawi, who personally boycotted Israeli products, was forced to sign a pledge that she would not take any action “intend- ed to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial re- lations with Israel.” To her credit, Amawi refused to sign a new con- tract with the Pflugerville, Texas Independent School District, but lost her livelihood in the process. Particularly galling are those firms producing goods and services for the benefit of settlers in the Oc- cupied West Bank and East Jeru- salem Al Quds. These firms, by profiting from wares produced in Palestinian territories, are com- plicit in the apartheid policies of the Zionist regime and its illegal occupation. The Council on Human Rights has identified 206 such companies operating in Occupied Palestin- ian Territory. While the so-called “blacklist” has yet to be disclosed, the following firms are among those already known to be oper- ating in occupied Palestine: Cat- erpillar, Hewlett Packard, Motor- ola, Flir Systems, Honeywell, L3 Communications, Schneider Elec- tric, Siemens, United Technolo- gies, Valero Energy and Volvo, to name a few. Moreover, the Israeli entity, by

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being the largest recipient of U.S. foreign military aid, is connected economically to the American arms industry. For example, Lock- heed Martin in Texas has produced F-35 warplanes, which were sold to the Israeli Air Force. At a cost of $5.57 billion USD for 33 of the advanced jet fighter planes, spare parts and simulators, the Zionist regime will pay for this from the U.S. military assistance money it receives. This satanic economic symbiosis, according to Lock- heed Martin, results in the F-35 being “responsible for more than 220,000 direct and indirect U.S. jobs.” And no wonder, for the F-35 contract is distributed over 1,400 suppliers in 45 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. As a result of this intertwining of U.S. arms makers and the Israeli entity’s interests, U.S. politicians are caught in a sinkhole of moral compromise. For obvious political reasons, they support favorable lo- cal policies towards the arms mak- ers because of the high-paying jobs these companies bring to their communities. But then they are forced to vote for military aid for the Israeli entity, since in so doing, these funds eventually return to their communities to stimulate the local economy by providing good- paying jobs with the arms makers. Over time, voting against military aid for the Israeli entity becomes more and more difficult, making public criticism of the Zionist re- gime and its abysmal human rights record, virtually impossible. Palestinians in Gaza have been en-

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during a Zionist siege since 2007 that bans the free movement of persons and goods in and out of the enclave, which amounts to col- lective punishment and is a crime against humanity under interna- tional law. Beginning on March 30, 2018, Palestinians in Gaza began peaceful protests concen- trated at five locations along the eastern border fence of the Israeli entity, which responded with typi- cal blood-curdling violence. Since the onset of these protests, called “The Great March of Return,” 196 Palestinians, including 41 chil- dren, 2 women, 8 persons with disabilities, 2 journalists and 3 paramedics, have been killed and 11,427 wounded, including 2,206 children, 344 women, 246 jour- nalists and 653 medical person- nel, by Israeli Occupation Forces, whose snipers deliberately target unarmed victims with lethal force in a futile attempt to quell the tens- of-thousands of determined dem- onstrators. Against this sanguinary scenario in Gaza, the perpetually self- absorbed occupant of the White House is preparing to roll out his “deal of the century” proposal, the details of which have already been leaked to Israeli news media. First and foremost, Palestinians would have to concede defeat in their 70- plus year struggle for their right to return to their homeland. Second, Arab states would be obliged to engage in land swaps, something which, no doubt, seems reason- able to the former real estate ty- coon currently in the Oval Office.

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Third, Arab countries would be required to grant full citizenship to Palestinian refugees, as well as to absorb the cost of implementing this stillborn solution to this fes- tering 7-decades-old dilemma. Realistically, we cannot expect a reasonable proposal for resolving this core Middle East issue from a rogue regime whose dealmaker- in-chief and loyal son-in-law have already moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Al Quds, glee- fully celebrating the grand open- ing while Israeli Occupation Force snipers were busy gunning down Palestinians in Gaza. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 55 were killed and 2,770 were in- jured while peacefully protesting the embassy opening on . As if that were not enough, the current occupant of the Oval office has brazenly and in defiance of international law recognized Is- raeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Syrian territory seized by the Zionist regime in 1967. When asked if he thought Pales- tinians were capable of govern- ing themselves, Jared Kushner, Trump’s Middle East envoy, ar- rogantly responded, “That’s one that we’ll have to see. The hope is that they, over time, will become capable of governing.” Rather than doubting the Palestinians, it would appear that the U.S. and the Israeli entity not only lack abilities for governing themselves, but also are demonstrably incapable of co- existing peacefully in the commu- nity of the civilized nations of the world.

No. 267. May 2020 15 ECHO Imam Khomeini Is A Leader Who Emerges Every Thou- sand Years Once Interview

Mr. Bakytkoja Rustamov is the Kazakhstani president Kazakhstan, and winner of various international of the International Council of Literature, led by Eu- literary awards. Mr. Rustamov has written a book rope and Asia (Eurasia) People Assembly (located about the Late Imam Khomeini, Human from View- in Moscow, Russia). He also is the chosen writer of point of Imam Khomeini, in Kazakh language; so, 2017, in nations literature section (Kiev, Ukraine), on the occasion of Imam Khomeini’s anniversary, title winner of the “most popular writer, columnist of we decided to conduct an interview with him about 2019” in “People’s Popular” national competition of Imam Khomeini and his ideals.

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Q. Usually Imam Khomeini (RA) is recalled as a very soon, as his father was martyred by the regime. charismatic leader, what characteristics have resulted He experienced many problems and difficulties which in development of such character in Imam Khomeini? helped him to become a great and experienced man. A) I think that the charismatic leadership of Imam He learnt how to find a way to get rid of any bottle- Khomeini (RA) is the result of his deep and heart faith neck. Relying on his honesty, justice, faith and kind- in god and the good features bestowed upon him by ness, this great man succeeded to mobilize his people the Almighty God. Imam Khomeini lost his parents in order to realize the duties had been defined for him.

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Q. Please explain about Imam Khomeini’s thoughts and the Islamic Republic of Iran role in awakening the Muslin nations of the region. A) The initial goals and purposes of Imam Khomeini are defined based on performing his religious and ethical duties, the duties which resulted in his exile from his country and living far from the homeland for many years. Also, it can be said that his initial goals were parallel with the Iranian people, which it was very important in the victory of the Islamic Republic. According to his own planning, not only development of oil and gas industry, technology and agriculture, but also developments of spiritual di- mensions of people’s life have been considered. De- pendency of the country, even through its smallest needs, to foreign countries and interference of other powers in the internal affairs of the country and op- position of the regime with the people’s religious culture made it clear that the country needs funda- mental and substantial reforms, and the flag of these changes and reforms was in the hands of Imam Kho- meini. Lack of social and speech freedoms, discrimi- its basic plan. If it moves ahead in the main route with- nation and inequality were among problems which out mistake, the development of the country would be convinced Imam Khomeini to call for and mobilize continued and will survive as a successful revolution Iranian People; as his anti-imperialistic plan was in the history. In answer to your other question, I said welcome warmly by people. that relying on divine graces helped Imam to be suc- cessful, moreover, Imam and the revolution both sup- Q. What are the most important Ideals of Imam Kho- ported people, who used to live in a dire condition. meini in your idea? He showed Iranian and the world people the way of A) One of great ideals of Imam Khomeini was re- development based on Islam. For me, Imam Khomei- leasing not only Iranian people, but also all Muslim ni is a great historical figure who born any thousand and oppressed nations, from the western ideology years once. He is the man who awakened the Muslim and strengthening their own culture and introducing World. I can say that he is the sole international leader to other countries. Using his works including articles who became able to explain about the importance of and books, he tries to share his ideas and opinions Quranic virtues in terms of social and political con- with other people and reassured hearts and mobilized siderations for the ordinary people. Actually there is everybody univocally towards his great goals. no ruler in the world who can avoid wealth, but in his meaningful and spiritual life, with contentment and Q. The Islamic Republic of Iran is considered as one avoiding greed, Imam became the popular leader of of successful revolutions in the contemporary epoch, the mass. Imam told all oppressed nations, “Defend can you enumerate some reasons for the success of your rights, avoid the tricky measures of the world Imam Khomeini? tyrants who have no honesty and justice.” A) The main condition for being a constructive and successful revolution, it needs to do not divert from Q. How you analyze the principles of ethics and ac-

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Thank you for your time.

tion in Imam Khomeini’s thought and practice? How independence, freedom and awareness and to avoid can explain the relationship between ethics, spiritu- deviations, especially in the academic centers where ality and its social effects in strengthening humanis- “human making” centers, what do you think about tic interactions and cooperation by Imam Khomeini’s this social advice of Imam Khomeini? manner of life? A) I agree completely with the late leader of Iran. A) I respect ethical and spiritual principles of both The future of any nation depends on its youth. The thoughts and practice of Imam Khomeini (RA). youth future in turn is formed by the greater genera- Imam’s greatness signs can be seen through his life. tion. The governments need to pay a special attention Those who were contemporary with Imam, describe to train youth in universities and schools. him as a mindful, aware and hardworking but kind man. The relationship between ethics, spirituality Q. Please explain about the effect of spiritual, philo- and its social effects in strengthening humanistic sophical and comprehensive aspects of Imam Kho- interactions and cooperation by Imam Khomeini’s meini’s character on pervasiveness and inspiring manner of life can be seen in his performance. In his specificity of his revolution in the international area. domestic and foreign politics, it can be seen that both A) It is clear that the imperialism representatives thinking and practice of Imam Khomeini has had a intend to disguise spiritual, philosophical, scientific great social influence on strengthening spiritual and and political aspects of Imam Khomeini’s character humanistic interactions. To describe him, I can say in the international area. I think that the great phe- that Imam Khomeini’s lifestyle was a unique phe- nomenon of Imam Khomeini is not restricted to a nomenon in the history of mankind. certain period of time. Despite his demise, his bril- liant ideas are alive. Imam Khomeini showed people Q. Imam Khomeini invites all youth to keep human that imperialism is strange with mankind and need to values and to pay attention to great concepts such as get rid of it.

No. 267. May 2020 19 ECHO The 'Deal of the Century' or the 'Bluff of the Millennium'?

by Akiva Eldar

Trump's plan is meant to boost Netan- yahu's elec- toral fortunes and help keep him out of jail. But it can all backfire.

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The devil is not in the details of the "deal of the As far as Adelson is concerned, "the Palestinians are an century". The map that United States President invented people" whose sole purpose on Earth is to de- Donald Trump tweeted on January 28 follow- stroy Israel. Adelson was also among those who encour- ing the announcement of his Middle East plan aged Trump to pull the US out of the nuclear agreement shows what looks like a slice of Swiss cheese with Iran. He thinks Iran should have been nuked. rather than of a sovereign Palestinian state. The corrupt symbiosis of money, power and media is no But for Trump's main supporters - people like secret. In a June 2019 opinion piece in the freebie Israel gambling tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Hayom newspaper, the Adelsons' biggest endowment to Miriam Adelson, who stood in the front row dur- Israel's political right, Miriam Adelson gushed, "Trump ing the announcement ceremony in the White should enjoy sweeping support among US Jews, just as House - this was yet another win. he does among . That this has not been the case (so These days, it is people like Adelson, rich con- far; the 2020 election still beckons) is an oddity that will servative donors to the Trump campaign, along long be pondered by historians. Scholars of the Bible will with the president's evangelical base, who are no doubt note the heroes, sages, and prophets of antiquity calling the shots in Washington and Jerusalem. who were similarly spurned by the very people they came They are always there, in the front row. They to raise up. Would it be too much to pray for a day when appeared satisfied and beaming at the 2018 in- the Bible gets a 'Book of Trump'?" auguration of the US Embassy in Jerusalem - a She ended her article suggesting, "Until that is decided, move they had badgered and cajoled the pres- let us, at least, sit back and marvel at this time of miracles ident to make. He obviously did not regret it, for Israel, for the United States, and for the whole world". even though the Palestinians severed ties with No less. Washington as a result. But Israeli Prime Minister will find it hard "to sit back and marvel". He will need a real mir- acle to extricate himself from criminal conviction. All of Adelson's billions cannot stop the wheels of justice spin- ning in Jerusalem. While Netanyahu was waxing poetic in Washington about a "historic moment", history was being made in Jerusa- lem with the first-ever court filing of a criminal- indict ment against an incumbent Israeli prime minister. Unlike Trump, whose Senate-majority support is expected to save him from removal after the impeachment, Netanyahu has lost his majority in the Israeli legislature. That led him this week to withdraw the request he submit- ted to the for immunity from prosecution. Since first losing the Knesset elections in April 2019, Netanya- hu has led an interim government that does not enjoy a Knesset majority. Nor did the September 2019 elections provide him with the needed majority to form a government. Polls indicate that the upcoming March 2 elections will not break the tie between the right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu and the centre-left bloc led by Blue and White party Chair Benny Gantz.

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Netanyahu, however, is not giving up. He is seeking to turn the elections from a referendum on immunity, which he gave up on for lack of majority, into a "trial by the people". As his mouth- piece, Knesset member Miki Zohar, opined last June, "The Attorney Gen- eral and the legal system will have to consider the election results, because the people are the sovereign." Israeli law does not support this popu- list, dangerous opinion. Netanyahu, however, hopes that if the results of the country's third elections in less than a year perpetuate the political chaos, and necessitate a fourth round, a Knesset majority will be bound to support a unity government and the postponement of his trial till the end of days. Although the latest polls indicate that at least 50 percent support the plan while only 24 percent oppose it in or- der to turn it to an exit from prison, Netanyahu will first have to obtain ap- proval from the attorney general, the president and/or the Supreme Court. They will need to set a shameful prec- edent that the Israeli democracy al- lows a person to form government de- spite criminal indictment against him. Currently the law obliges an indicted minister to resign, but not a prime minister. Meanwhile, the "peace plan" has be- come an election football. Netanyahu and Gantz are competing to see which of them embraces the plan more tight- ly before he chokes it to death. Both know there is no chance - or more precisely for them, no danger - that the Palestinians will adopt it and thus force them to deal with the truly tough issues of handing over sovereign Is-

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raeli land to a Palestinian state. Netanyahu's pro-Israel friends in the Trump administration, chief among them US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and White House adviser Jared Kushner, helped sow numer- ous landmines among the pages of the "plan" to ensure the Palestinians will not even be tempted to discuss it. American and Israeli archives are overflowing with position papers ex- plaining why the Palestinians will never cede sovereignty over Jerusa- lem's Holy Basin and control of al- Haram al-Sharif. Palestinian President has stated numerous times, both privately and publicly, that he cannot sign a document deter- mining that Israel is the state (exclu- sively) of the Jewish people. No less of a major landmine is the precondi- tion that be disarmed. If the Palestinian Authority will be tempted to accept this, it will lead to a Pales- tinian civil war. A couple of hours after the announce- ment of the plan, Netanyahu promised to pass a resolution that will allow the annexation of the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as soon as Sunday. A few hours later, Kushner told him to hold the horses and keep the status quo until the March elec- tions. Right now, it seems that even Netan- yahu's casino mogul friend will not be able to turn back the dice and save him from prison. What he will leave behind is despair in the Arab and Is- raeli peace camp and a "deal of the century" that may turn out to be the bluff of the millennium.

Source: al-Jazeera

No. 267. May 2020 23 ECHO

Yusuf Abdullah Quds Day is the only Measure Relevant for Quds Liberation

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While giving an open invitation to salem's Jews alive in their syna- Muslims and the world on August gogue, it was the Muslim Saladin 7th, 1979 to observe the day, Imam who kindly brought back Jews to Khomeini of blessed memory said Jerusalem, along with his Muslim "I invite Muslims all over the glove followers. And 800 years later, to consecrate the last Friday of the within the UN headquarters in holy month of Ramadan, which Flushing Meadow, New York, this is a day of fate and which could was how the Muslims were paid also become the day on which the back for their past kindness to the fate of Palestinian people might Jews. be determined as Quds day and America was the apparent negoti- to proclaim the legitimate right of ator and chief architect of all road the Muslim people of Palestine" maps regarding the domination of The day expresses solidarity and Palestinians by Israel or what oth- global support to Palestinians, and ers ignorantly refer as incessant indeed all other oppressed. Mid-east conflict. Among other Observed through processions, questions arising; was any tangi- conferences, and rallies by na- ble achievements made in the over tions, human rights activists and seven decades of peace talks? Any civil liberties organizations, this optimism in the future? To what insightful declaration of the Imam extent is the negotiator accused evidently received borderless ac- of a double standard? Then, in ceptance. whose interest does America work Established after World War II, in the process? The other side of Israel was promulgated and rec- the conflict reveals the gainful ognized by Western powers in arms trade to American and other 1948. as a movement de- European manufacturers. veloped in the late 1800's which On the ambitious liberation of united Jews and saw the force- Palestine, many thought the Arab ful creation of the illegal state in league formed in 1945, with the In the name of Allah who states place of Palestine, then occupied aim of strengthening ties among " Glory be to Him Who made His by only 5% Jewish inhabitants. member states, could coordinate servant go on a night from the To quote from Zariani Abdul Rah- their policies and protect their Sacred Mosque to the remote man's book - HITLER AND THE common interests. But what were mosque of which We have blessed WANDERING JEW, 1994. Just a the achievements of the league? the precincts, so that We may few days ago, the diplomacy of the To what extent did the league and show to him some of our signs; dignified and handsome Semitic its sister Palestinian liberation or- surely He is the Hearing, the See- Prince Faisal Abdul-Aziz al-Saud ganization (PLO) achieve their ing" Quran, 17:1 was lost on the hysterical crowd of stated objectives? Peace and blessings of Allah be New York Jews who were bent on The question is how could the upon His chosen servant, our mas- literally spitting HRH. and PLO, established ter Muhammad, and his purified Nine centuries ago, while Chris- on the basis of Arabism or Nation- progeny. tian Crusaders were burning Jeru- alism lead to emancipation of Pal-

No. 267. May 2020 25 ECHO estine while the same Nationalism was used to destabilize the grand Ottoman Empire and establish Is- rael in its place? No doubt, Quds Day is the only measure relevant for Quds liberation; the third holi- est mosque and the first direction of Muslims. Unity is the force behind the call of this great Islamic personality, and ultimate hope for liberation of Palestine and other world op- pressed. George Curzon, the Brit- ish Secretary of state for foreign affairs, 1911-1921 said "we must put an end to anything which brings about Islamic unity be- tween the sons of the Muslims. As we have already succeeded in finishing off the caliphate, so we must ensure that there will never arise again unity for the Muslims, whether it be intellectual or cul- tural unity" “And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Al- lah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves” Q3:103. That is why the spiri- tual leader of the Islamic revolu- tion in Iran, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei maintains that the ISIS clearly serves the American inter- est in the Middle-east accusing any cooperation with the U.S. to resolve the Iraqi or Syrian situa- tion of sowing discord and divi- sions in the region. In a borderless sympathy, the day basically sympathizes with Palestinians and other oppressed regardless of all odds, and to fight oppression and injustice as common enemies. The Imam bitterly debunked apartheid and

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helped Nelson Mandela in the fight against it. On the other hand, Mandela said: "the independence of South Africa was incomplete without the freedom of Palestine". And on his first visit to Tehran af- ter release from long incarcera- tion, he appreciated the fatherly role of the Imam and Iran's his- toric support. Late Hugo Chavez observed the day where he would be seen at the forefront of the events among other protesters in his country. The world is aware of the unfor- tunate Saudi military campaign against Yemen since 2015. Ironi- cally, it's deliberate aggression by the richest and most influential Muslim Arab nation against the poorest and closest neighbor. The consequence of the aggression in Yemen is what the united nation described as the worst humanitar- ian crises in contemporary histo- ry. We use this occasion to cham- pion the cause of other world oppressed in Afghanistan, , , , Nigeria, and Central Africa among others. Since the unfortunate 2015 Zaria massacre, and non-response of the government, endless ques- tions are raised; what was the ac- tual rationale behind the attack on the Islamic movement? On what ground was the Sheikh arrested? In whose interest are the elderly and ailing Sheikh, his wife and other disciples being detained? What is the government's stand on the Federal High Court ver- dict? Why does the government disre-

No. 267. May 2020 27 ECHO

gard calls of millions of Nigerians on the need to take him abroad for medication? And to what extent will the detention continue? What is the stand of the government on the over one thousand Nigerians killed in Zaria, Kano, and Abuja evidently recorded, and related incidences? This also exposes the lies of the so-called developed na- tions who claim leading positions in protection and promotion of fundamental human rights across the world. What a double stand! If peace, unity, and progress of this country were the uncompromising yard- sticks to assess significant rel- evance of the citizenry, who can dare to compare his eminence, the indefatigable leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibraheem el- Zakzaky with any scholar, politi- cian or else in our contemporary history? With the access of the London- based Islamic Human Rights Commission; an august umbrel- la of about 30 Islamic and other nongovernmental organizations of a global network for justice, to the ailing Sheikh and his wife last month, an assessment of their health was made by a team of ex- perts mainly from India. The de- velopment was consequent to the Sheikh's lawyer’s incessant notice on their client's health in court sessions as known to all for which the judge mandated the exercise for the duo. It is imperative to acknowledge the effort by the people wishing peace to reign and justice to pre-

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vail all over the world. As em- phasized by the Imam “the Quds Day is a universal day. It is not an exclusive day for Quds itself. It is a day for the oppressed to rise and stand up against the arrogant.” Presently, the world is aware of the US and its allies heightening pressures on Iran fuelling fears for a possible war. The Iranopho- bia is meant to limit its growing might and influence in the region which is apparently non-achiev- able. America's withdrawal from JCPOA, continuous moral and military support to Israel and in- cessant interference in the region is not unconnected with Iran's im- pressive role in its security and wellbeing. There is no doubt that there is always a limit to oppres- sion. At this juncture, the famous words of Sheikh el-Zakzaky, as he gave hope to oppressed especially Palestinians are relevant "Israel was created by terrorism. No mat- ter the years of oppression, it will crumble" While sympathizing with the Pal- estinians on this day, we denounce the enemies' unending brutality and bloodshed especially in Ye- men, Somalia, and Nigeria among others. We use the same medium to emphasize the urgent need for the unconditional release of Sheikh Ibraheem el-Zakzaky (H) and his disciples. As we mark the day of the oppressed, we also appreciate the role of all justice-seeking and concerned individuals and organi- zations on the plight of Palestin- ians and other oppressed. Source: Tehran Times

No. 267. May 2020 29 ECHO

Thierry Meyssan The Deal of the Century Is a Vile Plot and People Should Revolt To Nip It in the Bud

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When the foundations of international law were laid Israel and immediately carried out extensive ethnic in 1899 at the Hague Conference, the aim was to cleansing (the Nakba), the UN recognized the new prevent wars between states by means of arbitration. state, but sent Count Folke Bernadotte to verify the When the British Empire decolonized Mandate Pales- reality on the spot. He noted Israel’s crimes, advo- tine and the Arab-Israeli conflict erupted, internation- cated limiting by two thirds the territory allocated al law was of no recourse because there was neither a to the Yishuv, but was assassinated by the of Palestinian nor a Jewish state. So they tinkered with , before he could present his report in incoherent rules that we, wrongly, consider to be im- New York. More than 700 General Assembly resolu- mutable. tions and more than 100 Security Council resolutions The principles that the founding states of the United later, the conflict had escalated and no solution was Nations, including Syria, drew up in the plan for the in sight. partition of Palestine were rejected by both sides. President Trump had imagined that he would be able When the Yishuv unilaterally proclaimed the State of to square the circle before the end of his mandate.

No. 267. May 2020 31 ECHO

As soon as he was elected, he was UNRWA in order to force the in- mistakenly considered pro-Israel ternational community to stop when he is just a New World busi- sponsoring the status quo. This nessman. provoked the fury of the Palestin- He started from the following ian Authority and severed diplo- observation: Israel ethnically matic relations between Ramallah cleansed the territory it self-allo- and Washington. As heir to the cated in 1948. It fought the 1967 people who had stolen the land war, which it won. from the Indians, he recognized The Palestinians fought the 1970 Israel’s conquest of the Syrian Go- war with , the 1973 war lan, hoping to open negotiations with Israel, the 1975 war with with Damascus, but reaping only Lebanon, the 1990 war with Ku- the condemnation of 193 States. wait, and the 2012 war with Syria, He secretly negotiated an agree- all of which they lost. But neither ment between Israel and Hamas group intends to assume the con- that led to the payment of Gaza sequences of its actions. officials by Qatar. The debate has been distorted The document published by the since , refusing to White House this week is present- be marginalized by the Madrid ed by its authors as unenforceable process, abandoned the project of because it does not have the sup- a binational State based on equal- port of both parties (page 10). It ity between Arabs and Jews and presents a process in four years, violated the 1948 partition plan that is to say during the next US by signing the . The presidential term. It is therefore a principle of the "two-state solu- document for electoral use in the tion", devised by , United States, not a final peace the former ally of the South Afri- plan. can apartheid regime, is nothing Rather than whining and denounc- more than the creation of Pales- ing a fait accompli, we need to un- tinian Bantustans, an extension derstand where the White House of what President Jimmy Carter is going, especially since we reject called "Israeli apartheid". Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Trump has therefore devised a Heights. peace plan that he has begun to Donald Trump is a businessman implement silently over the past who has put an unacceptable plan two years. on the table in order to achieve On December 6, 2017, he recog- much less, but to achieve peace. nized Jerusalem as the capital of He is a disciple of President An- Israel, without specifying its bor- drew Jackson who substituted ne- ders, hoping in vain that the Pales- gotiation for war with the Indians. tinian Authority would move from Certainly, the agreement he signed Ramallah to . with the Cherokees was sabotaged He withdrew US funding from by his own army and gave rise to

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the atrocious episode of the Val- ley of Tears. But today, the Chero- kees are the only Native American people to have survived European immigration as such. The publication of this document was also a trap into which Ben- jamin Netanyahu fell headlong. Without waiting, the Israeli Prime Minister loudly welcomed the plan in order to eclipse his com- petitor, General Beny Gantz. Ne- tanyahu had cause to regret this. All the Arab League states stood united, including Qatar, which is secretly participating in the plan. The years of Israel’s efforts to break the Arab front by relying on , Qatar, Jordan and Oman have been wiped out. After Israeli Channel 13 reported Jan. 23 that the Donald Trump ad- ministration would reveal its plan for Middle East peace, Palestinian leaders reiterated their rejection of the so-called deal of the century even before learning of the details. In the lead up to elections in Isra- el scheduled for March 2, Trump invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his po- litical rival Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White, to visit the White House Jan. 28 for details and unveiling of the deal. With Palestinians publicly rejecting the proposal even before its pub- lic presentation, approval of it at some later date appears unlikely and will deepen the current rup- ture with Washington. According to recent media reports, Abbas is refusing to take Trump's calls. On Jan. 15 in Ramallah, dep-

No. 267. May 2020 33 ECHO

the century are not serious enough. The Palestinians are preoccupied with their internal disputes, and the discussions about the deal are not Palestinian-Israeli or US-Palestin- ian but rather US-Israeli. Pales- tinians are present absentees, and they cannot accept the deal of the century, as it does not grant them components of an independent en- tity, even if Israelis were to retreat from parts of the West Bank. The deal of the century is not a viable solution, and people should revolt to nip it in the bud.” One reason the Palestinians oppose Trump's proposal is the belief that it will render the cantonization of the West Bank permanent. Instead of Israeli exploitation of the territo- ries through overt occupation, the deal would uphold the status quo in the West Bank with areas remain- ing under Israeli military and se- uty leader Mahmoud al-Aloul had resentative to discuss the plan's curity control and Palestinian civil said in a meeting with members of details despite the negative conse- administration. It would also strike the international press that the Pal- quences he stands to suffer. the Palestinian presence in Jerusa- estinian leadership still has no spe- In a Jan. 23 press statement, lem and maintain Gaza’s isolation cifics about the plan's proposals, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qas- and the blockade against it. but nonetheless feels certain that it sem pledged that his organization Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of neither includes the establishment would foil any deal. Khalil al-Ha- the PLO's Executive Committee, of a Palestinian state, East Jerusa- ya, a top Hamas official, had said told Al-Monitor, “The implemen- lem as the capital of that state or at a Jan. 16 press conference that tation of the deal began before its the right of return for refugees. For on a recent tour of capitals, Hamas' declaration, when the US declared these reasons, he said, the Palestin- political bureau chief, Ismail Hani- Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel ian leadership will oppose the plan. yeh, had sought to raise awareness in December 2017, moved its em- On Dec. 19 Palestinian President about the threat that the US propos- bassy there in May 2018 and de- Mahmoud Abbas had told Fatah’s al poses to the Palestinian cause. clared Israeli settlements legal in Revolutionary Council of his re- Bassem Naim, former Palestin- November 2019. It is therefore not jection of Trump's deal and of the ian health minister and head of the surprising that the Palestinians re- tremendous pressure he was under Gaza-based Council of Interna- ject the deal without even knowing by the United States to accept it. tional Relations, told Al-Monitor, its details.” Abbas has consistently refused to “Palestinian reactions to the im- He further stated, “At best, it communicate with Trump’s rep- minent declaration of the deal of would give us limited self-rule

34 No. 267. May 2020 ECHO ECHO rather than an independent state. We initially rejected the deal, and we are aware of the repercussions. Even if withdrawals from Palestin- ian areas take place, they will only give rise to a Palestinian state lack- ing sovereignty and will maintain Israel’s occupation of most West Bank areas.” Palestinians view the timing sur- rounding the presentation of the peace proposal, ahead of Israeli elections, as part of the Trump ad- ministration's support for the Ne- tanyahu-led right in Israel, given their strategic political alliance. Palestinians also envision the deal as backing Israel’s intention to an- nex Jewish settlements on the West Bank, including in the Jordan Val- ley, designate the West Bank and Gaza as the territory of a transi- tional state, New Palestine, and grant Palestinians limited adminis- trative powers. tor, “The declaration of the deal of PA and Hamas are tense, and each Mahmoud Mardawi, with Hamas’ the century will put Palestinians, will work single-handedly toward National Relations Office, told Al- whether Hamas or the [PLO], in a response.” Monitor, “If Israel wants to with- a quandary. The [PLO] will not Trump took office in 2017 promis- draw from part of the West Bank be able to make serious decisions ing the “deal of the century,” and without the Palestinians’ signed against the deal, save for condemn- as his deal has been unfolded, the approval of the deal, the resistance ing it, which might push a current Palestinians have had no serious will take advantage of this with- within Fatah to revolt against the public reactions to it, except for ex- out facilitating an Israeli move or official leadership and demand pressions of anger and condemna- participating in it. It is inconceiv- that it take serious stances. Hamas tion. This is unlikely to change after able to stand in the way of Israel’s is also in a pickle, as its organi- the proposal's unveiling although retreat from an area. Even if the zational presence is limited in the its presentation could pave the Palestinians have not signed the West Bank, and in Gaza it cannot way for implementation through deal or made commitments to the take a stand regarding the deal. US-Israeli agreement without the US and Israel, nothing stops them Add to this that Hamas will not Palestinians' consent, imposing the from benefiting from the potential jeopardize its understandings with deal as a fait accompli as with the outcome of the deal.” Israel aimed at improving the situ- US actions on Jerusalem and the Emad Abu Awad, a researcher at ation in Gaza. The Palestinians’ settlements and suspension of US the Istanbul-based Vision for Po- stances will not technically affect financial assistance. litical Development, told Al-Moni- the deal, as relations between the Source: volatire

No. 267. May 2020 35 ECHO

Binoy Kampmark Illegality of US Foreign Policy, Pre-emptive Force and Qasem Soleimani 36 No. 267. May 2020 ECHO ECHO

International relations is typified military action and “pre-emptive” by its vagueness of definition and military action, with the former International relations is its shallowness of justification. Be focused on targeting the enemy’s typified by its vagueness of it protecting citizens of a state in acquisition of a capacity to attack, definition and its shallow- another, launching a pre-emptive the latter focusing on foiling an strike to prevent what another ness of justification. Be it imminent enemy attack. state might do, or simply under- protecting citizens of a state Both the United States and Iran standing the application of a treaty in another, launching a pre- duly resorted to Article 51 letters provision, justifications can prove emptive strike to prevent in light of Soleimani’s killing. uneven and at odds. what another state might US Ambassador to the UN, Kelly The pre-emptive jerk behind the do, or simply understanding Craft, claimed that the strike took killing of Major General Qasem the application of a treaty place as a response to an “escalat- Soleimani of the Iranian Revolu- provision, justifications can ing series of armed attacks in re- tionary Guards Corps-Quds Force prove uneven and at odds. cent months” by Iran and its prox- was one such occasion. (It tran- ies on US personnel and interests spires that there was another ef- in the Middle East “in order to fort, failed as it turned out, against deter the Islamic Republic of Iran the Quds commander Abdul Reza from conducting or supporting Shahla’i.) The ingredients behind further attacks against the United the drone strike were supposedly States or US interests”. The ad- clear: the now vanquished leader dition purpose of the attack was of the Quds operational arm was to “degrade the Islamic Republic planning attacks on US soldiers of Iran and Islamic Revolutionary and interests. In any case, he had Guard Corps Qods Force-support- killed many US personnel before. ed militias’ ability to conduct at- The attack could therefore be seen tacks.” as an adventurous, and advanced Iranian Ambassador Majid Takht reading, of self-defence, billed by Ravanchi obliged with a counter the legal fraternity as “anticipa- letter to the UN on Wednesday tory self-defence”. justifying its January 8 actions in Article 51 of the United Nations retaliation against a US airbase Charter qualifies the use of force in Iraq for the killing of Solei- against another state by impos- mani. The retaliatory strikes were ing two conditions. There must deemed “measured and propor- be authorisation by the Security tionate”, “precise and targeted”, Council to use force to maintain and left “no collateral damage to or restore international peace and civilians and civilian assets in the security. The second arm of the area.” provision legitimises the use of The United States’ Assassination force where a state is exercising of Iranian Military Leader Vio- its recognised right to individual lates International Law or collective self-defence. But the For all the padding offered, the boundaries of the latter are often Soleimani killing could be con- unclear; they include “preventive” sidered a legacy of a tenuous, and

No. 267. May 2020 37 ECHO precarious reading of self-defence obliges us to adjust, alter and re- nent threat, and those threats in- offered by the United States since pudiate conventions. Flying civil- cluded attacks on US embassies. 2001. US policy makers have ian planes into the Twin Towers in Period. Full stop.” He conceded done their obfuscating bit to com- New York on September 11, 2001 to not knowing, with exact pre- pound the sheer vagueness of an- constituted such an unconvention- cision, “which day it would’ve ticipatory self-defence since Presi- al manner of attack. have been executed. I don’t know dent George W. Bush occupied the The 2006 National Security Strat- exactly which minute.” But the White House. The US National egy stated unequivocally that “the evidence was sound enough: So- Security Strategy of 2002, fol- place of pre-emption in our na- leimani “was plotting a broad, lowed by its 2006 variant, showed tional security strategy remains large-scale attack against Ameri- the sloppiness that comes with the same” though conceding that can interests. And those attacks imperial overconfidence in the “no country should ever use pre- were imminent.” pursuit of enemies. Pre-emption emption as a pretext for aggres- Each time he was confronted with and prevention lose their distinct sion.” Using such force would a question on clarification, Pom- forms when the drafters search for take place after “weighing the peo dissembled. In not taking any legitimate uses of force against a consequences of our actions. The action to stall the efforts of Solei- shady enemy that prefers to play reasons for our actions will be mani, the Trump administration by different rules. clear, the force measured, and the “would have been culpably neg- NSS 2002 acknowledges that cen- cause just.” Four years later, un- ligent” in not recommending the turies of international law “recog- der the Obama administration, the president to “take his action”. nized that nations need not suffer position had not much improved, President Donald Trump, for his an attack before they can lawfully and the muddle remained. part, has given the impression of take action to defend themselves The killing of a senior Iranian justified clarity. “I can reveal,” against forces that present an im- commander in circumstances that he told Fox News, “that I believe minent danger of attack.” But could hardly be seen as a mat- it would have been four embas- the scope is given a good widen- ter of combat revived that hoary sies.” Before a campaign rally in ing. “The United States has long old chestnut of imminent threat. Ohio on Thursday, he suggested maintained the option of pre-emp- When US Secretary of State Mike that Soleimani had been “actively tive actions to counter a sufficient Pompeo was pressed about the na- planning new attacks, and he was threat to our national security. The ture of such imminence in a press looking very seriously at our em- greater the threat, the greater is the conference, the old tangle of inter- bassies, and not just the embassy risk of inaction – and the more pretations became manifest. “Mr. in Baghdad.” compelling the case for taking Secretary,” came one question, None of this really matters in the anticipatory action to defend our- “the administration said this strike final analysis. Uses of force must selves, even if uncertainty remains was based on an imminent threat, be justified after the fact, and the as to the time and place of the en- but this morning you said we tradition of big power statecraft emy’s attack.” didn’t know precisely when and shows that the more formidable Embracing such a broad reading we didn’t know precisely where. a power, the more likely threats of pre-emption was conditioned That’s not the definition of ‘immi- against it will be magnified. The by “the capabilities and objectivi- nent’.” attack on Soleimani had as much ties of today’s adversaries. Rogue Pompeo was not exactly helpful, to do with inflated claims of US states and terrorists do not seek resorting to the classic rhetorical security as it did with chronic in- to attack us using conventional device of circularity. “We had security. means.” So it goes: the enemy specific information on an -immi Source: Global Research

38 No. 267. May 2020 Ayatollah Khamenei: The Deal of Century will die ECHO before Trump’s death Your ransom is freedom of Quds