A conservative Iranian cleric on Friday blasted the United States as inhuman and said it was the duty of Muslims worldwide to cut all relations with Israel and rise up against the Jewish state, reported (AFP)
"Palestinians are being killed ruthlessly," Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said at weekly prayers at Tehran university, a day after Israel bombarded Palestinian cities in response to the lynching of three Israelis.
"Young children, old people, all kinds of people -- carrying stones in their hands. They are shot," Jannati said, his voice trembling with rage as the crowd responded with cries of "Death to Israel" and "Death to America."
"What is a stone compared to a gun?" he said. "Why are the people not demonstrating, why are the Arab nations quiet? Why are the streets not filled with demonstrations against the United States and Israel?"
He denounced Washington for its continuing support for Israel, noting that Washington has kept Iran on a list of nations that back international terrorism over its support for the Islamic militant Hezbollah.
"What kind of creatures are sitting in the US government who call themselves human? I hope those who think the United States has become human will wake up!"
He also said there was "no other way" to deal with the Jewish state except through continued "resistance", adding: "If a Muslim is need of help, then other Muslims are obliged to help."
He called on Muslim nations to "cut your relations with Israel -- it is the least you can do."
Another conservative cleric, Ahmad Khatami, condemned UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for visiting the region only after Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah forces in the midst of the latest troubles.
"They do not value humanity," Khatami said. "They do not value human beings."
Meanwhile, student members of Iran's volunteer Islamic Basiji militia announced they would stage a demonstration in front of the UN office in Tehran on Monday to "defend Palestine" -- (AFP)
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