“Iran Can Turn Foes to Friends,” Says Palestine’s Ambassador.

Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s former regime had normal ties with Israel, hence recognizing it as an independent country. So, Israel established its embassy on Tehran’s Palestine St. (Ex. Kakh). Following the 1979 Revolution, Israel’s former embassy was captured by the Revolutionary forces, and the Iran-Israel ties were completely cut, and the last Israelis remaining in Tehran were the Generals and Security Officers who left Tehran on February 18, 1979 with the aid of the US. The building, therefore, was given to the Palestine Liberation Organization led by Yaser Arafat. Since 1981, Salah Zawawi, as Palestine’s second ambassador, came has been serving in Tehran. To inspect the Hamas-Fatah talks and gain a better grasp of his viewpoint on the latest regional developments, we held an interview with him. However, after conducting the interview, and at the request of the embassy of Palestine, his viewpoints about two Reformist figures who are incarcerated currently were omitted.

AVA Diplomatic’s Exclusive Interview with Mr. Salah Zawawi, Palestine’s Ambassador in Iran

Interview by Mohammadreza Nazari

How much do you think the fact that now Palestine has become a non-member UN observer can contribute to establish its governance?

Last year, we stood up against the western Zionists’ projects. As you may know, the so-called government of Israel was formed by the west on our soil. The importance of the resolution you referred to and that the UN General Assembly recognized us as a non-member country is nothing new. 138 countries recognized Palestine, even on the occupied lands, in 1967 with its capital city being East Jerusalem. They approve of the fact that the

Palestinians are entitled to return to their motherland.

However, this resolution would be no more than some ink on a paper unless we give life to it and put it into practice. To do so, we need a national Palestinian, Arabian and Islamic unity to support us. We seek the help of the international community, too. If measuring the power scales now, unfortunately, Israel is in a position of power. A country that enjoys the full US arsenals and financial resources. This resolution only partially recognized our rights in our lands, and if we can implement it, then we will be able to reap the rewards of our previous revolutions born by the blood of our martyrs.

We know that the Zionist enemies are large countries which help Israel maintain its existence as much as they can. The western countries built the first Zionist settlement on Palestine’s soil right after the massacre of the Jews. In fact, to rid of the Jews in their own countries, they drove them to our country, which means the Jews who suffered cruelty from the European countries are now imposing the same suffering on our nation. They seized our safe land and gave it to the Jews, therefore sent the Palestinians on a diaspora though they had been living in peace.

All said, we are optimistic toward this resolution and know that it recognizes a part of our rights; we also know, however, that our Zionist enemy would not allow us to establish our governance unless it has to.

The objectives of Zionists are pretty clear: establishing a large government from the Euphrates River to the Nile. The Zionist enemy, of course, has got two different projects ongoing. The first is named Israel Project Greatness, of which Shimon Peres is an epitome. In his book named the New Middle East, which is also translated into Farsi, he explains that there is no need to be at war with the neighboring countries. “We can bring the Great Israel in realization through the joint economic projects such as building water or gas pipelines, or rail roads. In fact, we are the dominant party and the work is done by the plain labors. This way, and using these commercial and economic ties, Israel can dominate the region without being involved in a single conflict.”

The second is the Likud Party led by Netanyahu, who seeks to achieve their intended Israel by force and war. They also intend to conquer Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and some parts of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran once they gain the full control over Palestine.

Once, I showed an Israeli coin to everyone, named 10 agoras, on which is located a map that shows some parts of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

So, under such circumstances and considering these two visions, Pope Francis has decided to intervene between Mr. Mahmoud Abbas and Peres to meet. Do you think the talks will be easy with the Zionists Moderate Cabinet?

I would only tell you one sentence and no more. The difference between the extremists and moderates is that one of them eats its prey with hooks, claws and sharp teeth, and the other does it with a knife and fork!

We see that the National Unity Government is to be established between Fatah and Hamas which is a good omen and positive happening. How will the government be divided between Fatah and Hamas?

First, I would like to state my gratitude to the dear Iran for the statement the Ministry of Foreign Affair issued and confirmed the national agreement between Fatah and Hamas. This national reconciliation, though, has happened very late. Hence, it is our first step to tread on the right path. The wars over ideologies and conflicts usually happen after a victory, not before it. Even now that it is still a mere mirage, we are fighting with each other. We cannot form either a national government or an Islamic one. What has occurred shows that we have truly understood that Palestine would have no future should we not achieve a national unity. There have been agreements signed in Cairo, Doha, Mecca and recently in Camp Alshaty’ of Gaza which will hopefully be practiced. But, about the arrangements of the future government, I should say that the future government will be a technocratic formation which aims at holding legislative, national council parliamentary and presidential elections within mere 6 months. Fortunately enough, those who have faith in the fairness of the government of Palestine have advocated this step. Yet, to surely tell you about the future Palestine and what will come next, you should wait and see what the ballot boxes have to say to you.

Have you agreed upon Riyad al-Maliki maintaining his position?

There were some disagreements about the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Treasury which are quite natural, of course.

With the formation of the National Unity Government, the President of the Palestinian National Authority will be reelected. Can he declare the independence of Palestine?

Forming the government is the first step and has nothing to do with the rest. The government will be established and has 6 months of time budget. That is the first step we take.

Is declaring the independence of Palestine possible to happen within 6 months to 1 year?

I explained to you how the Zionist regime thinks. They will not allow the formation of the government if they do not have to. Therefore, the first step is the establishment of the National Unity Government, and then, we need the full support of all Arabs, Muslims and also all our friends, for Israel will cause some problems anyway. So, it is too soon to say what will happen then. Once the government is formed, our way is paved for the initiation of our governance. That is a prolonging battle between us and the Zionists.

Do you believe that all Arabic and Islamic countries will help you establish the Palestinian governance?

I have no doubt.

You mean Peres’s détente policies in some Arabic and Islamic countries will be thwarted?

I do not mean to look down on this matter. We are at war. I told you that the formation of Israel was a western and Zionist project, which, unfortunately, was carried out in Palestine successfully. Peres and the Likud hold two different opinions. The Zionist enemy we are at war with proceeds with its projects even through negotiations. I mean we have 500 million settlers on the West Bank. 300 settlements have been planted on our lands and there is even a wall which separates them from us. So, you see that they advanced their projects even then. We, too, had a project to fight theirs which, unfortunately, failed due to the conflicts between us. If we look at the Arab world, we can notice that the enemy has done things to avoid the existence of unity between these countries. The Islamic world is no better than that of the Arabs. Hence, the unity step, which is taken very late, is the initiation of treading on the right path to finalize our plans. We, though, are involved in a deep fight, which is not easy at all. True that the poor support us, but our enemy enjoys the support of the west and the US which has made this war take so long.

But the US seems to be mediating between Palestine and Israel.

The US is the creator of Israel itself, and was the first country to recognize Israel back then. Only seconds after the UN recognized Israel, the then US President, Truman, recognized Israel. How can we expect the US to be an impartial, conscientious mediator then?

Why the US cannot be impartial is because the lobby of Israel in the US is very strong and their influence on the Congress and the Senate and other American parties has been growing strong. Remember that when John Kerry stated that Israel is on its way to apartheid, they criticized him so fiercely that he had to take back his words. There is an Arabic proverb which says, “Human wanted to escape the fire in the desert, he took shelter to another fire!”

While the circumstances are as such, why do the Palestinians agree with John Kerry’s trip for negotiations?

The power balance behooves us so, and unfortunately that is a means of ours. Arabs and other Muslims are rather scattered everywhere and have numerous problems. We fought with stones, stood against the tanks bare-handed, our captives are fighting in captivity while starving direly; as a matter of fact, we are fighting with whatever we can.

How is the reopening of the Rafah Border Crossing going?

That matter should be discussed with our Egyptian brothers. Our brothers on the Gaza Strip have been under pressure big time. Water, electricity, transportation to and from Gaza, esp. after what happened in Egypt, have all become problems now. To be honest, it requires discussions and analyses and will be worked out in time.

How will the election of el-Sisi affect the Palestine-Egypt ties?

Egypt has a new President now and we should negotiate with him to reach a bilateral agreement over the topics.

How have the Palestine-Egypt relations changed after the election of el-Sisi?

What matters for us the most is that a new government is formed now and we move toward it.

So, your top priority is to extend friendly interaction with whichever government established in Egypt, right?

Egypt is a big country and a grand brother for us. In 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973, they fought for Palestine and spared martyrs then.

You were a member of the Mobilization Office of Fatah in Syria for a while, which means you can be pretty effective on easing the tensions in Syria. What have been your activities in this regard?

My friendship with Bashar Al Assad is of a very strong nature. I do care about this brother country of ours and believe it is like a crown on the head of all Arab and Muslim nations. Syrians stood with us since the very first day the Zionist plan was given birth to. From almost a hundred years ago, we have been gaining support from Syria, and it has suffered hundreds of thousands of martyrs for us. Our first revolutionaries were trained in Damascus, given weapons and warm welcomes. In 1965, when our battles were sparked off, again, we began from Syria and had its full support. This grand nation, country and its huge army helped us following the lead of their enlightened leader to stay stable and keep fighting. They have done anything for us.

I can also say that Syria has been a center to gain the contributions of Arab, Islamic and International communities, and treated the Palestinian people just as it treats its own. However, it has not given our people the Syrian citizenship so as for them to be able to get back whenever they want. In my opinion, defending Damascus in the form of suggestion, contribution or martyrdom is an absolute right we owe to Syria and Damascus.

I hope Syria, which has been targeted by enormous conspiracies, can renovate its place in the Arab and Islamic world once again, and overcome all these conspiracies aiming at ruining its background and history.

And about the meeting of June 1, 2014 to discuss the solution to the Syrian crisis, I should say that we welcome such steps and will spare no effort to put out the flames in Syria and bring the national reconciliation and reconstruction back to it. That is a positive measure from Iran that has always maintained well-established relations with Syria.

You just pointed to the state of the displaced Palestinian in Syria. During the infightings, a large number of the Palestinians were displaced or injured. Are you aware of their current status?

Unfortunately, the circumstances of the Palestinian camps, esp. Yarmouk camp, in Syria are very dire. In his call, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas asked me to make the necessary arrangements with the Iranian and Syrian authorities to take a measure for the reconstruction of Yarmouk camp as to enable the displaced Palestinians to return to their homes. Nonetheless, many Palestinians who were close to Lebanon’s borders immigrated there or to Europe. I hope this disaster comes to an end.

How much can Iran’s policy contribute to the Syrian-Syrian solution?

The Syrian crisis can be worked out only through the implementation of the Syrian-Syrian dialogs, and also by driving out the excommunicated who came to Syria from other countries. I believe Iran’s participation is very important and a major cause why the Geneva conference led to a failure was the absence of Iran.

After the election, Mr. Assad will take new measures to reconstruct Syria and the national reconciliation, and continues with what he had already begun earlier. Iran, Arab and Islamic countries should help, too, return the displaced Syrians back to their homes. You can help Syria just the way you did about Lebanon. In fact, these great people should be helped out, for they always advocated the displaced Palestinians since 1948. They backed up the displaced Lebanese while Lebanon was invaded by Israel, as well. Moreover, they helped the displaced Iraqis.

The Syrians have always supported every freedom movement regardless of their skin, religion or politics. So, the whole Arab world owes Syria a great deal.

How can the closeness of Saudi Arabia and Iran influence the Syrian crisis?

Saudi Arabia has a central role and the Holy Shrines are located therein. It has a lot of ties with Asian, Latin American and African countries, too. Iran, on the other hand, is like an honor in the world of Islam and has acted as a center for attracting contributions for Palestine. Neither Saudi Arabians nor Iranians are as innocent as the Prophet, and all are probable to commit mistakes. If Iran manages to reach an agreement with Saudi Arabia, it will help solve the problems of the whole world of Arab and Islam. As a Palestinian fighter, and not as an ambassador, I highly advise that you never pressure your officials and leaders to make split-second decisions when sensitive matters are being dealt with. Therefore, attacking countries and their figures is very different from criticizing their political behaviors. You are all entitled to criticize a political behavior, but to attack and destroy the characters, I believe, can do you no good. During the 33 years I have been living in Iran, I learned that criticism is good, but not destruction! So, the best of every solution is where it maintains moderation.

I hope just as Fatah and Hamas could reconcile nationally, such approach can be exercised in Iran, too. Do you have any words with the officials and people in Iran in this regard?

In the closing, I say that you are a great nation and God have bestowed upon you a great wealth of things. As the book of God says, you have been given everything you asked for. You have wealth, dignity, determination, cultural-national variety, and an enlightened leader who I know in person. He is a wise, clever, pious and faithful man. You had and have men who changed the history of this region. The innovations we see and heard about in here are an honor for the Islamic world.

I tell you as a friend, as I have before, do not pressure your officials to attack a country. Criticism and justness are both necessary. Islam has specific features which you, as a journalist, are well aware of.

You and the Islamic Republic of Iran can turn your foes to friends. You can assure your neighbors of your support, esp. your objectives to free Palestinians, Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque bode very well.

It is such an honor to know Iran has managed to conduct lobby inside the US and could bring failure to that of Israel. It is an honor as Muslims.