an analysis of the evolution of "anti-zionism" discourse in iran since before the revolution up to today

it is near seventy years that the question of palestine and its occupation by the zionists has drawn attentions in iran. since the establishment of the zionist regime in palestine, many iranian politicians, intellectuals and even common people with various political backgrounds have paid attention to this question and have shaped several discourses in this regard. supporting the palestinian cause and rejection of israel has hold an important place in the islamic revolutionary discourses in iran during 1960s and 1970s, and in the post-revolution era has emerged as one of the identity pillars for the islamic republic of iran’s foreign policy. using “discourse analysis” as a method and theory, this research intends to study the palestine-concerned elements in the islamic revolutionary discourse and examine their continuation and evolution under the current islamic republic’s discourse. to this end, the discursive elements related to palestine in the broader discourses of three important political activists and intellectuals of pre-revolution era (ayatollah morteza motahhari, dr. ali shariati, and jalal al-e ahmad) will be exploited and categorized. each of these figures highlighted one aspect of supporting palestine and rejection of israel on the basis of islamism, justice-seeking, and anti-colonialism. then the continuation and articulation of these elements under the islamic republic will be examined by reading through ayatollah khamenei’s discourse. the study comes to the conclusion that not only the discussed elements have been reproduced and reinforced throughout four past decades, but some new elements have also been added to them and together, they have shaped a comprehensive “anti-israeli” discourse under the islamic republic. these new elements include rejection of the so-called “peace process” between israel and palestinian authority, supporting the “resistance axis” in the region, and proposing a referendum for creation of a unified palestine as the sole political solution to the ongoing crisis. ayatollah khamenei’s “anti-israeli” discourse is also based on two nodal points: israel as the first and foremost adversary of the islamic republic, and annihilation of zionism and liberation of the whole land of palestine as desirable destination.