Iranian president: 'Jihad' against Israel only option left for Palestinians

Rouhani charges that the Palestinians should take advantage of allegations that Israel does not seek peace to wage violence against the Jewish state.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: DECEMBER 13, 2016 16:13
An Islamic Jihad militant attends an anti-Israel rally in Rafah. (photo credit: REUTERS)
An Islamic Jihad militant attends an anti-Israel rally in Rafah.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Palestinians have no option left in their pursuit for an independent state apart from "jihad" against Israel, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday.
Iranian news agency Fars cited Rouhani as charging that the Palestinians should take advantage of allegations that Israel does not seek peace to wage violence in the name of Islam against the Jewish state.
"Today, the world public opinion is faced with this strong argument that the Zionist regime has never been after peace, and this argument and reasoning should be used to show that there is no way, but jihad and resistance for the Palestinians against the usurper regime," he said in meeting with the leader of the Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Speaking in Tehran to Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah - the leader of the Palestinian terrorist group - Rouhani accused Israel of fueling regional instability and perpetuating "terrorists' operations" to divert attention from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to Fars, Rouhani blamed Israel for increased sectarian conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and North Africa.
Earlier this year, Iran reportedly renewed funding to the cash-strapped Islamic Jihad after a two-year cessation due to a row between the leadership in Tehran and the heads of the Palestinian terror group.
"Islamic Jihad plotted to blow up Israeli wedding hall, kidnap IDF soldier"
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group was formed as on offshoot of the Egyptian's Muslim Brotherhood movement and is also said to be sponsored by Syria.
Islamic Jihad once operated as the second-largest armed group in the Gaza Strip after Hamas. The terrorist group is responsible for dozens of rocket attacks and various plots against Israel in recent years.


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