IRNA: WAPIST secretary clarifies those Iranian calls for "referendum"

Don't you love the name "WAPIST"? Anyone who thinks Ahmadinejad has only been calling for regime change similar to the fall of the Soviet Union should take note:

Secretary of the World Assembly for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WAPIST) Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri said here Wednesday that referendum is the only possible solution to the Palestinian problem.

"Two governments, one equipped with the most sophisticated weapons and backed by superpowers and the other being totally confined and without armaments and backing, would be unlikely be able to continue work in the occupied Palestinian territories except by holding free referendum," Taskhiri told IRNA on Wednesday.

He said that it seems that the only solution to Palestinian problem is holding free referendum in Palestine as proposed for the first time by Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Bear in mind that the Iranian Press usually simply refers to all of Israel as "Occupied Palestine" or something similar:

He added that a free referendum would be valid only if Palestinian refugees return to their homeland and the occupiers leave the occupied lands. "In that case, any government elected after the referendum will be accepted by all," he noted.

"All," evidently means all the Palestinians who are left after all the Jews leave. An article entitled "President: Pursuing nuclear weapons is politically backwarded" also mentions that "referendum":

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that any state pursuing nuclear weapons is politically backwarded.

Addressing a press conference held on the sidelines of the 63rd meeting of the UN General Assembly, he said the real democracy exists in the Islamic Republic.

The Iranian people are their own masters, he said, adding that they elect the country's officials and have full supervision over the governing system.

On the critical situation in Palestine, he underscored the need for holding free referendum there in order to put and end to sufferings of the Palestinians.

He added that the Islamic Republic will propose a democratic plan to resolve the Palestinian problems. The plan will be presented to the United Nations soon, he said. [...]

Another headline announces "Iran asks Ban Ki-moon to hold referendum in entire Palestine":

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday called on the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to hold a free referendum in Palestine for determining and establishing the type of state in the entire Palestinian lands.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, while fully respecting the resistance of the oppressed people of Palestine and expressing its all-out support for it, submits its humane solution based on a free referendum in Palestine for determining and establishing the type of state in the entire Palestinian lands to the distinguished Secretary General of the UN.

"American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders.

Today, the thought of hegemony quickly becomes a demerit.[...]

Savor the Irangrish!

Crossposted on Soccer Dad