Follow Up

As a follow-up to the recent post titled "Behold," in a day--yesterday-- marked with multitudinous and vociferous rallies in Iran that condemned Israel following President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's incendiary remarks, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that the massive demonstrations would illustrate the anger of the Islamic world over the Jewish state's existence.

"The comments expressed by the president is the declared and specific policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Mottaki told state-run television. "We don't recognize the Zionist regime and don't consider it legitimate."

Many of the demonstrators held banners with anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian slogans. Many of the placards read: "Death to Israel, death to America."

Right. Republicus repeats: It would be unwise to allow the Iranians to possess uranium at this juncture.

On a brighter note, it does seem that, for its part, the Palestinian Authority is, as Republicus has been hoping, beginning to get up from all fours and stand upright.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat distanced himself from the Iranian polemics:

"We have recognized the state of Israel and we are pursuing a peace process with Israel, and ... we do not accept the statements of the president of Iran. This is unacceptable."

Good for you, Mr. Erakat, for your people, and the world.