‘Judaization of al-Quds unacceptable’

A senior Iranian lawmaker has condemned the recent bill passed by the Israeli Knesset, calling the al-Quds (Jerusalem) Judaization project as unacceptable.

Head of the Majlis (Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Tuesday that “as the first Muslim Kiblah, al-Quds (Jerusalem) will forever remain the capital of Palestine.”

The Iranian lawmaker made the remarks in reaction to the Knesset bid to declare al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the “united capital” of the entire Jewish population of the world.

He further called on the Islamic nations and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to adopt a strong stance against the bill, which aims to justify the enforcement of demographic transformation in the city by evacuating its Arab residents and further expanding the construction of the Jewish settlements.

“This is not the first time that the zionist regime [of israel] makes such an effort but such a regime whose existence is completely illegitimate and unacceptable cannot do this,” Boroujerdi.

The Iranian lawmaker then pointed to the Velayat 90 naval drills and said the maneuver has sent a warning message to those employing the “literature of sanction” against Iran.

Boroujerdi went on to say that the 10-day drill, which was launched on December 24, 2011, served to show the Islamic Republic’s defensive might.

The Velayat 90 naval drill took place in line with a recent directive by the Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, who instructed Iranian Armed Forces to maintain total readiness to defend the nation against any potential threats.

Iran maintains that the maneuvers are defensive in nature and intend to convey a message of peace and friendship to regional countries. It has also extended a public invitation to regional states to conduct joint naval drills with Iranian forces.