What do Iranians think of Israel? Their views might surprise you

[Celerity]

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/israel-hamas-iran-views/



A public fireworks celebration at Tehran’s Palestine Square, home of the Palestinian embassy, was organized to celebrate the horrific attacks of October 7 by militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both of whom receive significant military and financial help from the Islamic Republic of Iran. A few dozen gathered, waving massive Palestinian flags and holding up portraits of assassinated Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani, who directed the regime’s help to Hamas and other proxies in the region before he was killed by a US drone strike in January 2020. Loudspeakers blasted propaganda songs in Persian and Arabic. One went, “Israel is my enemy; its wiping off the map will bring me a bright future.”

On that very day, Iranian officials took turns declaring open support for the attacks on Israel. Tehran’s Valiasr Square, used for years for in-your-face propaganda posters by the regime, soon featured a fading flag of Israel, supposedly representing the coming destruction of the Jewish State. But before long, on October 10, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denied having had a direct operational role. Ordinary Iranians are raised with this anti-Israel and antisemitic content, which fills television and radio broadcasts and even school textbooks. Yet, anyone familiar with Iranian society knows that anti-Israel attitudes have mostly failed to go beyond the most vociferous supporters of the regime despite years of attempted indoctrination.

On October 8, the day after the attacks, as Tehran’s Persepolis FC faced Gol Gohar in the city’s iconic Azadi soccer stadium, some pro-government figures tried to raise the Palestinian flag from the stands. The backlash they faced was immediate. Thousands of fans started shouting a slogan formulated in the rowdy and rude tone of soccer fans everywhere: “Shove the Palestinian flag up your a–.” Many notable Iranians joined in condemning Hamas’s attacks. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, human rights activist Atena Daemi wrote: “We see videos of attacks on Israel and massacre and hostage-taking of civilians by the grouplet Hamas, and this has added to our pains.” Daemi was quick to add that the crimes of Hamas should not be attributed to the Palestinian people as a whole.

Sadegh Zibakalam, a political scientist at Tehran University and one of the country’s best-known public intellectuals, criticized Tehran’s backing of the attacks. Writing on X, Zibakalam said: “Officials of Iran, including MPs, are offering open and clear support for the attacks of Hamas. I wish the authorities who are showing such official support for the attacks could explain to the Iranian people: How will these attacks help the national interests of the Iranian people?” Having been an Islamist political prisoner under the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Zibakalam is among the founding generation of the Islamic Republic. However, he has gone on to severely criticize its foreign policy, particularly Tehran’s anti-Israel and antisemitic policies that he sees as harmful to national interests.



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[Xolodno]

1. Yes views there are mixed.

After the elected government was given the boot due to the USA/UK sponsored coup, they forced the government to recognize Israel. So, that anti Israel sentiment is hooked to the anti USA sentiment....and they really hate the USA. I've went to Free Republic a few times when mass protests erupt there and its "we should be helping them!". I think, no we shouldn't, that falls into the narrative of the West trying to overthrow them...yet again. A very sore spot over there.

Obama made real gains into better relations with Iran, but then we had Trump. Now, they trust us even less as a significant portion of our populace elected this leader, which means, they share his vision. So, that hampers any future agreements. All too often here in the USA, we take one step forward and eventually take two steps back. We have met the enemy and he is us.

[multigraincracker]

3. Part of the UK/US included and paid for by

Big Oil. They go 40% of Irans oil fields.

They did get the Shah and his oppressive secret police. The Shah replaced a popular ELECTED prime minister.

[RockRaven]

2. In re: any regime where speaking contrariwise to the government leads to death or imprisonment,

it is very foolish for people to claim they know what the public sentiments are. At best, perhaps, available information on public sentiments shows one boundary of range of the true value.