Language:
English
Year of publication:
2012
Titel der Quelle:
Die Welt des Islams
Angaben zur Quelle:
52,3-4 (2012) 370-399
Keywords:
Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud
;
Anti-Zionism
;
Antisemitism
;
Jews History 1800-2000
Abstract:
Dismisses the view that antisemitism and a generally hostile attitude toward Jews are deeply rooted in Iran's society and history. From the ancient period through the Middle Ages, and until today, Persian-Jewish relations were ambivalent: Iranian history holds precedents for both persecution of Jews and cohabitation with them. Argues that the worsening situation of Iranian Jews in the 16th-19th centuries was not due to the rise of Shiite dynasties, but to an increase in anti-Jewish prejudices that had begun centuries before. Under the last Shah, there was cooperation between Iran and Israel, which rendered Khomeyni and his followers even more anti-Jewish. Despite Khomeyni's rhetoric that he distinguished between Zionists and Iranian Jews, the latter became de facto second-class citizens. Anti-Zionism is one of the ideological pillars of the current Iranian regime. Ahmadinejad constantly attacks Israel verbally; argues, however, that his pronouncements are often given undue importance and even mistranslated by Western mass media. Ahmadinejad's threats to "wipe out" Israel can be explained by his goal to be a leader and spokesman of the Arab world, as well as by his failures in politics. Iran's enmity toward Israel is mainly geo-strategic. In any case, although Iranian Jews are discriminated against, their situation is tolerable and much better than that of the persecuted Bahai minority. If the present regime has some fascist traits, Iran's treatment of its Jews is not one of them.
DOI:
10.1163/15700607-201200A6
URL:
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