Tehran, Sept 26, IRNA

Provisional Friday Prayer Leader of Tehran said here Friday Qods issue is of great significance in context of Palestine crisis, adding, "It is still most acute, most vital, and most pivotal issue of Islamic world, and probably international community." According to IRNA Economic Desk reporter, Ayatollah Akbar Hashmei Rafsanjani further stressed in his first sermon, "Among the other lingering and great world events, you can trace no other nation that has suffered as much pains and injustice as the Palestinian nation for almost an entire century." Speaker of Iran's Leadership Experts Assembly referred to the late Imam's serious concern about Palestine throughout his struggles, pointed out that Palestine has always been at center of Iran's foreign policy making, and noted that nomination of last Friday of holy fasting month of Ramadan as International Qods Day by late Imam was a great initiative with minimal cost and maximal benefits in defense of the oppressed Palestinian nation.

Rafsanjani said that the reflection of the Iranian nation's rallies on International Qods day is very noticeable in the world, adding, "Alert and broad presence of the Iranian nation at International Qods Day rallies is quite effective in attitude change towards Palestine in the world, and the issue is becoming a grassroot move in Islamic countries." He referred to numerous efforts made to distinguish the flames of this bright torch, all in vain so far, and useless in the future, as well, by grace of God.

This week's Friday preacher of Tehran considered Britain, the Islamic countries and particularly the Arab countries, the United States, France, and the United Nations, as responsible parties for the occurrence of the great human catastrophe in Palestine, that has used to 100 years of pains, poverty, and homelessness of an entire nation.

He thanked God that the Palestinians have finally sought the right path towards liberation of their land, that is none, but sticking to Islam, that has led to praiseworthy results.

Rafsanjani said that the main criminal in Palestine issue is Britain, that provided the Zionists with administrative system and military facilities initially, increasing their power to a level that was above the Muslims' powers in the vicinity of occupied alestine.

On United Nation's role in creation of catastrophe in Palestine, he said, "That international organ has no pride, and shoulders heavy responsibility due to its negative conduct over the issue. The United Nation's first crime was official division of Palestine, which is a hypocritical move presented as a solution." Rafsanjani said that the other nasty moves of the UN included issuance of useless, non-abiding resolutions in favor of both the Palestinians and the Israelis, never pursuing their implementation.

He reiterated, "No country in the world has breached as many UN resolutions as Israel has so far, while facing no punishment." The chairman of Expediency Council said, "The UN has recently been issuing unjust resolutions against Iran, too, which are dealt with wisely by Tehran." Rafsanjani said that the third source of corruption in occupied Palestine case is the United States, adding, "Relying on the credit it had gained in World War II, that country opened a very ugly file for itself in the world history, a part of which was providing Israel with military nuclear technology." He said that France, too, was responsible in turning Israel into a nuclear power, by designing the heavy water reactor of that regime, that can produce some 60 kilograms of plutonium, enough to manufacture seven to eight nuclear bombs each year.

Rafsanjani said the other corruption center in Palestine case was the Arabic and Islamic countries, that did not at the beginning make any serious effort to block the path of the poisonous fountain.

He praised the brave resistance of the Palestinian nation in recent years, referring to their great suffering, including dedication of thousands of martyrs and wounded people, arguing, "The Palestinians are highly praiseworthy." 2329**1420

---> Rafsanjani-Palestine-Islamic World