Source: almanar.com.lb, 18-09-2009

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that confronting the Zionist regime is a national and religious duty," to ensure global peace. In a pre-sermon speech to Friday prayers worshippers on the Al-Quds International Day, President Ahmadinejad maintained that countering "Israel" was a 'humanitarian principle'.

Millions of Iranians across the country took to the streets on Friday to mark the annual Quds Day march in solidarity with Palestinians.

Ahmadinejad urged all nations particularly the regional countries to stand up to "Israel", arguing that the very existence of the regime has 'jeopardized' the whole region. The existence of the Zionist regime amounts to an eternal insecurity in the region, President Ahmadinejad said, adding that the regional countries will never recognize "Israel". "The Zionist regime is the symbol of lies and deception," which was founded on 'colonialist' attitudes, President Ahmadinejad added.

The Iranian leader said Zionism seeks to build a global empire to dominate the whole world so it was in the national interests of any country to face up to the 'fake regime'. The president then went on to question the story behind the Holocaust and urged a probe into it. "If the Holocaust, as you claim, is true, why don't you allow a probe into the issue?" President Ahmadinejad then promised Iran's full support for the Palestinian nation and said 'Quds Day is the day of unity' for Iranians, Muslims and the international community.