Video summary
A delegation from across the Iranian diaspora has traveled to Israel united by their opposition to the Islamic Republic and a shared vision of alliance between Iranians and Israelis rather than enmity. During a gathering in Tel Aviv, organizers presented this perspective rooted in a historical bond spanning over two thousand years, tracing it back to Cyrus the Great. They argue that there is an existing, albeit sometimes hidden, connection because the founder of the Iranian nation was also the liberator who allowed Jewish exiles from Babylon to return and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. The group asserts that while the current radical regime in Tehran kills both Iranians and Israelis by building a ring of terror around Israel, the people themselves are united against injustice and should stand together as allies.
Beyond seeking political support, this opposition delegation is actively studying Zionism—the movement that established the Jewish state—to see if its methods can be adapted for use within Iran to achieve their own national goals. They refer to this concept as "Iranian Zionism," describing it as adopting a game plan similar to what was used before 1948 to create Israel, with the aim of helping Iranians reclaim their country from the oppressive regime. Activists emphasize that hostility toward Israel does not represent most Iranians, pointing out that major protests in the diaspora frequently display both Israeli flags and those of host countries alongside Iranian opposition symbols, demonstrating a desire for freedom rather than conflict.
The delegation highlights significant efforts to break long-standing taboos regarding relations between the two peoples, citing Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi's 2023 visit to Israel as a pivotal moment that challenged the narrative that Iranians and Israelis are natural enemies. Activist Lily Moo notes that their collective aims to build a positive civilian bridge using the successful blueprint of Zionism to construct a nation for Iran once again. They argue that despite four decades of hostility from Tehran, the relationship between the two peoples has survived because it is based on an ancient bond that remains intact even under strain caused by current political regimes.
Ultimately, the message conveyed by this group in Tel Aviv is that Israel and Iran are not destined to remain enemies forever, but can instead forge a future alliance starting with ties between their citizens today. They believe that once the oppressive regime of Ayatollah falls, the world will witness the fruitful friendship between Iranian people and Israelis flourishing again. This vision relies on the idea that the historical connection is merely under pressure rather than severed, promising that as soon as political oppression ends in Iran, a new era of cooperation can begin based on their shared heritage and mutual aspirations for freedom and statehood.
Read the full video transcript
They came to Israel from across the
Iranian diaspora, united by their
opposition to the Islamic Republic and a
belief that Israelis and Iranians should
be allies, not enemies. At a gathering
in Tel Aviv, members of the Iranian
opposition delegation and event
organizers presented a vision rooted in
a shared history stretching back more
than 2,000 years.
>> There is a secretive alliance between
Israelis and Iranians. It's not always
on the table, but we share the same past
because I was the great the father of
the Iranian nation is also the first
Zionist and the liberator of the Jewish
people.
>> Cyrus the Great allowed the Jewish
people exiled in Babylon to return to
Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Now, the organizers say it is time for
Israel to stand with the children of
Cyrus, Iranians seeking freedom from the
Islamic Republic.
>> The radical regime that is killing
Iranians is also killing Israelis. It's
oppressing the Iranian people and it's
building a ring of terror
around Israel. And together, we can
convey the message that the children of
Israel and the children of Cyrus are
united and they stand together against
injustice.
>> But this delegation is not only looking
to Israel as a political ally.
It is also studying the movement that
established the Jewish state and asking
whether its methods can be adapted to
Iran.
They call the idea Iranian Zionism.
>> It's the adoption
of the Iranian opposition
of
ex- almost exactly the game plan that we
had well before 1948
on how to reach 1948 and get a state.
Again, they need to get their state
back. They need to get their country
back.
>> Iranian participants say the Islamic
Republic's hostility toward Israel does
not represent most Iranians.
>> If you look at the Iranian protests in
the diaspora where we have more freedom,
all basically all of the major Iranian
opposition to the Islamic Republic
protests have Israeli flags in addition
to the flag of the host country.
>> Amin says exiled Crown Prince Reza
Pahlavi helped break a long-standing
taboo when he visited Israel in 2023.
>> A lot of people think Iranians don't
like Israel and we, you know, don't get
along and he did that to show that
uh he and all of the Iranians that
support him don't think Israel is our
enemy.
>> Iranian activist Lily Moo says the
relationship between the two peoples has
survived more than four decades of
hostility from Tehran.
>> We are a collective of Iranians from
across the diaspora where we are hoping
to build a
a positive civilian bridge between the
Iranians and the Israelis and use the
wonderful and successful Zionist
blueprint of building a country.
>> For this delegation, the message is that
Israel and Iran are not destined to
remain enemies. And that the alliance
they hope to build in the future can
begin with ties between their people
today.
>> This 2 and 1/2 thousand-year-old bond is
uh not broken, is not severed, and
>> [snorts]
>> is just under strain. And as soon as the
oppressive regime of Ayatollah falls, um
the
fruitful friendship of the Iranian
people and the Israelis will be
witnessed by the world.
>> Yulia Pobegailova, I24 News, Tel Aviv.