Language:
German
Year of publication:
2011
Titel der Quelle:
Jahrbuch für Antisemitismusforschung
Angaben zur Quelle:
20 (2011) 240-263
Keywords:
Jews History 1945-
;
Antisemitism
;
Arab-Israeli conflict
;
Anti-Zionism
;
Iran Foreign relations
;
Israel Foreign relations
;
Iran Emigration and immigration
Abstract:
Draws a nuanced picture of the complex Iranian attitude towards the Jews, tracing its history. The immediate prehistory to the current hostility towards Israel dates back to the period of Islamic opposition to the Shah and to his cooperation with the Jewish state. After the Islamic revolution in 1979, the situation of Iranian Jews deteriorated, as no distinction was made between them and Israel. Gradually, however, after most of the Jews had emigrated, official Iran began to distinguish between its anti-Zionist state ideology and Iranian Jews. Since Ahmadinejad was elected president in 2005, Iranian antisemitism has gained in volume, although its contents remain unchanged. Discusses the effects of a statement made by Ahmadinejad in 2005, wrongly translated as demanding that "Israel be wiped off the map", when in fact it predicts that "the regime which occupies Jerusalem will disappear from the pages of history". Contends that Ahmadinejad used the outcry engendered by his statement to boost his weak domestic position and strengthen his chances to be recognized as an important leader in the Arab world. Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial and statements regarding Israel, although antisemitic, were not motivated by ideological or religious hatred towards the Jews. Rejects the "neo-lachrymose conception of Jewish-Arab history".
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