Iran's Khamenei meets Islamic Jihad leaders, calls for Israel's downfall
According to the report, Khamenei congratulated leaders of the Islamic Jihad for, what he called, their victory against Israel in Gaza.
By CASSANDRA GOMES-HOCHBERGUpdated: DECEMBER 31, 2018 18:16Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks live on television after casting his ballot in the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 12, 2009(photo credit: REUTERS/CAREN FIROUZ)
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei met with Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Ziad al-Nakhala in Teheran on Monday to emphasize his support for the Palestinian people, the Iranian network Press TV reported Monday.“As long as there is resistance, the Zionist regime’s downfall and demise will continue," said Khamenei.According to the report, Khamenei congratulated leaders of the Islamic Jihad for, what he called, their victory against Israel in Gaza.“During the previous two wars, the Zionist regime called for truce after 22 days on one occasion and 8 days on another, but in the latest confrontation it requested a ceasefire after only 48 hours,” Khamenei explained. “This means the Zionist regime has been brought to its knees.”Islamic Jihad has been labelled a terrorist organization by the US, EU, Israel and other countries, and has seen been backed with Iranian funds. With its main strongholds in Hebron and Jenin in the West Bank, its operations have included suicide bombings, attacks on Israeli civilians and rocket fire, including a bomb attack in Jerusalem that injured more than 100 people.Following Islamic Jihad rocket fire in Gaza into Israel in October, an IDF statement said that they launched rockets "under the encouragement of the terror-exporting Iranian regime," and that rocket fire was conducted with "clear guidance from Iran."
