Ahmadinejad Says Israel Doomed To ‘Collapse’

TEHRAN — President Ahmadinejad of Iran said today the American-hosted Middle East peace conference was a “failure” and that Israel is doomed to “collapse.” He also suggested it was a mistake for his closest Arab ally, Syria, to participate.The comments were the first time in months that the hard-line Mr. Ahmadinejad has used such strong anti-Israeli rhetoric, highlighting Tehran’s bitterness toward the Annapolis conference, which is widely seen as isolating Iran.“It is impossible that the Zionist regime will survive. Collapse is in the nature of this regime because it has been created on aggression, lying, oppression, and crime,” Mr. Ahmadinejad said after a Cabinet meeting, according to state-run television.“Soon, even the most politically doltish individuals will understand that this conference was a failure from the beginning,” he said in comments reported by the official IRNA news agency.In a reference to Arab countries attending the conference, he said, “We are disappointed that some individuals fell victim to the sinister Zionist regime. They are mistaken if they thought that this summit will bring any achievements for them.”Iran has repeatedly condemned the conference, saying it would fail to bring any peace for the Palestinian Arabs and warning that it will discredit Arab countries who participated. Iran yesterday expressed surprise that Damascus participated in the gathering, although it has stopped short of directly criticizing its ally.Mr. Ahmadinejad said the Palestinian Arab “resistance” — such as Hamas, which is backed by Tehran — must have a say in any settlement.“Many such meetings have been held but have failed,” he said. “If decision is made about Palestine, representatives of the elected Palestinian government and resistance should be there and the rights of the Palestinian people — self-determination, the right of voting and return of refugees — must be recognized,” he said.Mr. Ahmadinejad has raised controversy in the West with past predictions of Israel’s eventual destruction, including a comment saying it should be “wiped off” or “disappear” from the map — and even critics at home said his inflammatory speeches were needlessly provoking the West against Iran.Syria has defended its attendance, saying it is open to any serious attempt to reach a peace deal with Israel that brings the return of the Golan Heights. Syria’s deputy foreign minister, Faysal Mekdad, told the conference yesterday his country was “sincere in our pursuit of a just and comprehensive peace.”Mr. Mekdad said his country was ready to normalize relations with Israel, but only “after the full Israeli withdrawal from the Arab lands occupied in 1967,” according to a copy of the speech.

Ahmadinejad Says Israel Doomed To ‘Collapse’

Ahmadinejad Says Israel Doomed To ‘Collapse’

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