The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
TEHRAN, Iran: A top Iranian Jewish community leader on Wednesday described the recent immigration of 40 Iranian Jews to Israel as a "misinformation campaign" and insisted that Jews living in the Islamic Republic were not in danger under under hard-line policies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The 40 Iranians landed in Israel on Tuesday after a secret journey to the Jewish state. No details about their route of exit from Iran were given, but it was assumed they came through a third country.
Ciamak Morsathegh, who heads the Tehran Jewish Committee, claimed Wednesday that the immigrants were not Iranian because pictures broadcast on television in Israel on Tuesday did not show their faces. In Israel, the broadcasters did not show their faces because there was concern that publicity could lead to harm of Jews still in Iran.
"This is a misinformation campaign, a campaign of lies against Iran and its Jewish community. We can't confirm that 40 Iranian Jews landed in Israel," Morsathegh told The Associated Press.
A joint statement signed by Morsathegh and Morris Motamed, the only Jewish lawmaker in the Iranian parliament, also said the Iranian Jews have never been part of any "organized immigration" to Israel.
The operation to Israel was sponsored by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a charity that funnels millions of dollars from evangelical donors each year.
Yehiel Eckstein, a rabbi who founded the fellowship, said each immigrant receives US$10,000 (€6,950) from the group to help get them started in Israel. He has warned that the situation facing Iranian Jews is critical, because of the attitude of Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map."
Though Iran doesn't recognize Israel, and Iranian citizens are not legally authorized to travel to the Jewish state, Morsathegh insisted Jews in Iran are not in danger.
Iran's Jewish community of about 25,000 people is protected by the country's constitution and remains the largest in the Muslim Middle East. Synagogues, Jewish schools and stores operate openly. Morsathegh said in Tehran there are 20 synagogues, eight butchers, five schools, four youth organizations and two restaurants.
Morsathegh said Iranians, including Jews, immigrated from Iran following the 1979 Islamic revolution that brought hard-line clerics to power but said there had not been an exodus of Jews from Iran in recent years.
"We are one of the oldest communities in Iran. We are free to practice our religion. Anti-Semitism is a Western phenomenon but Jews have never been in danger in Iran," said Morsathegh, who spoke in his office in the Sapir Charity Hospital, which is run by Iranian Jews.
Morsathegh said Iran's Jewish community disagreed with hard-line Ahmadinejad when he called the Holocaust a "myth" but insisted his policies do not endanger Iran's Jewish minority.
While some of the Iranian Jewish immigrants in Israel were quoted as saying that they scared to wear a skullcap in the streets in Iran, Morsathegh said it was "sheer lies."
"We are Iranian Jews and are proud of our nationality. No amount of money can encourage us to give up Iran. Our nationality is not up for sale," Morsathegh said.
Submitted by islamservices on Wed, 2007-12-26 15:42
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It seems the Israelis are ashamed that no Iranian Jews want to leave, despite the bribes offered them.
The Israeli media claims it hid the newcomers’ faces to protect Jews in Iran -- but why do Iranian Jews need "protection"? Jews are allowed to make and drink alcohol in Iran. They can visit Israel any time they like. They talk to relatives in Israel on the phone every day. Iranian Jews in Israel can return to Iran and visit relatives. Many Iranian Jews attend Jerusalem Day festivities. Iranian Jews have a social web site. Even the The B’nai Brith Canada Institute for International Affairs says, “Iranian Jews are a recognized religious minority under the protection of the state, free to perform their religious practices and control their own education. Only two other religions, Christians and Zoroastrians, share that privilege.”
Ciamak Morsathegh, who heads the Tehran Jewish Committee, also heads Sapir Hospital, a Jewish hospital.
Ahmadinejad’s office has donated money to the Jewish hospital.
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Here are some relevant quotes…
Ciamak Morsathegh, head of Iran’s Jewish Committee, said, "This is a campaign of lies against Iran and its Jewish community.
A joint statement signed by Morsathegh and Morris Motamed, a Jewish lawmaker in the Iranian parliament, said the Iranian Jews have never been part of any "organized immigration" to Israel. Source: The Sun UK Also Yahoo News
The UK Independent newspaper says Jewish physicians have been celebrated in Iran for centuries. “Jews, Zoroastrians and Christians have rights enshrined in the constitution. They each elect their own member of parliament, and can make, but not sell, alcohol. Iranian Jews say they do not face active hostility.”
"Everyone thinks the Islamic republic is killing us, but this is wrong," Dr Morsathegh insists. "We can live here, study here, work here. I can speak in English, but I only think in Persian. This is my language and my native culture. I'm not going to leave."
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The Society of Iranian Jews issued a statement saying, “The identity of Iranian Jews is not tradable for any amount of money. Iranian Jews are among the most ancient Iranians. They love their Iranian identity and their culture. Threats and this immature political enticement will not achieve their aim of wiping out the identity of Iranian Jews."
The Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv reported that the bribes were doubled after earlier offers of £2,500 a head failed to attract any Iranian Jews to leave for Israel. Morris Motamed, a Jewish member of Iran’s parliament, said the bribes were insulting, and put the country's Jews under pressure to prove their loyalty. "Iran's Jews have always been free to emigrate and three-quarters of them did so after the revolution -- but 70% of those went to America, not Israel." Despite the absence of diplomatic ties with Israel, Iranian Jews frequently go there to visit relatives.
Iran's Jews have given Iran a loyalty pledge in the face of cash offers aimed at encouraging them to move to Israel.
UK Guardian
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Iranian Jews are buying luxury items and property, indicators that they will stay. Jews were a part of the anti-Israel “Jerusalem Day,” rally. Jewish MP Maurice Motamed came to the proceedings and said, “"Real Jews continue their war against Zionists and Israeli crimes. The oppressed people of Palestine living under occupation must feel that believers of all faiths support them.”
Source
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BBC:
Iranian Jews are determined to remain no matter what the pressures. Most of them don't speak Hebrew. Ahmedinejad’s office recently donated money for Tehran's Jewish hospital.
Hospital director Ciamak Morsathegh (Jewish) said,
"Anti-Semitism is not an eastern phenomenon, it's not an Islamic or Iranian phenomenon - anti-Semitism is a European phenomenon.”
A Jewish butcher in Iran told BBC there is no problem visiting Israel. "Whatever they say abroad is lies. We are comfortable in Iran - if you're not political and don't bother them, then they won't bother you.”
His customer, middle-aged Jewish housewife Giti agrees, saying she can easily talk to her two sons in Tel Aviv on the telephone and visit them. Iranian Jews who emigrated to Israel can to return to Iran and see their families.
"We are Iranian and we have been living in Iran for more than 3,000 years," says the Jewish hospital director Ciamak Morsathegh. "I am not going to leave - I will stay in Iran under any conditions.”
Likely the SAFEST PLACE FOR JEWS iN THE WORLD! (ooh oh, better bomb 'em now shaitanazim!) ThiS iS because they are protected from those who CLAiM they are Jews,
but would kill them instead
and take their place as 'gods chosen!!'
(read: satan's choice)