As many Muslims, including those in Israel, have condemned Trump’s soon-to-be-revealed ‘Deal of the Century’ between Israel and the PLO, Tehran proposed a solution of their own. In a tweet on Monday, Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, called for a referendum, that was proposed by Ayatollah Ali Khameini, between Muslims, Jews and Israelis “decide their future”.
The tweet said: “instead of a delusional “Deal of the Century”—which will be D.O.A.—self-described “champions of democracy” would do better to accept Iran’s democratic solution proposed by Ayatollah @khamenei_ir: A referendum whereby ALL Palestinians—Muslim, Jew or Christian—decide their future.”
Instead of a delusional “Deal of the Century”—which will be D.O.A.—self-described “champions of democracy” would do better to accept Iran’s democratic solution proposed by Ayatollah @khamenei_ir:
A referendum whereby ALL Palestinians—Muslim, Jew or Christian—decide their future.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 27, 2020
Two things that are notable about the Ayatollah’s proposal. One is that it calls for Jewish self-determination in the Land of Israel. This is certainly a far cry from the “wipe Israel off the map” language that we are used to. The other is that they refer to Jews as ‘Palestinians’. And if they believe that the land is ‘Palestinian’, then that would mean that Jewish ‘Palestinians also claim a stake in it.
Many of the responses to the Tweet called out Iran’s hypocrisy vis-a-vis democracy.
It’s better to make a referendum in Iran asking Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Balochs, and other Iranian oppressed minorities about their dreams instead of making theories for others’ conflicts.
“يأمرون الناس بالبر وينسون أنفسهم”.— عصفور الجنة (@silent5song) January 27, 2020