Iranian Blogger in Israel

In one of the best examples I can think of to demonstrate the real power of the blogosphere, fellow Israeli blogger (and blogware user) Lisa has arranged for an Iranian blogger to visit Israel (!)

 

The Iranian blogger in question, Hossein Derakhshan, explains his decision to visit Israel:

As a citizen journalist, I’m going to show my 20,000 daily Iranian readers what Israel really looks like and how people live there. The Islamic Republic has long portrayed Israel as an evil state, with a consensual political agenda of killing every single man and woman who prays to Allah, including Iranians.

 

I’m going to challenge that image.

 

There are many Iranian Jews residing in Israel now ‚Äìincluding the president and the minister of defense. Many still speak Persian and love where they were born and raised. I’m going to talk to them and show Israel and Iran from their point of view.

 

Historically, Persians and Jews have mostly lived in peace and have helped one another a great deal. But now, for whatever reason, they are perceived as enemies Рeven though they’ve never actually harmed one other, despite the existence of hard line leaders on both sides.

 

But now, given Iran’s persistence on its nuclear program (which obviously is a cover for a nuclear weapons program) and the new wave of threats Ahmadinejad is posing to Israel’s existence, the possibility of a harsh response by Israel is higher than ever.

 

As a peace activist, I’m going to show the Israelis that the vast majority of Iranians do not identify with Ahmadinejad‚Äôs rhetoric, despite what it looks like from the outside.

 

I’m going to tell them how any kind of violent action against Iran would only harm the young people who are gradually reforming the system and how the radicals would benefit from such situation.

While many people, like me, admire Lisa and Hossein’s actions, there are also those who object. Of course, these are the same people who object to Israel’s very existence, so you can’t please everyone.

 

If you want to follow Hossein’s visit more closely, you can do so by reading both Lisa’s and Hossein’s blogs. I know I will.

7 thoughts on “Iranian Blogger in Israel”

  1. Dave, thanks so much for posting about Hossein’s visit. We’re having a great time and I’m going to try to post every day about this fascinating experience. I’m also going to call you, as I promised!

  2. hi! As an iranian who although lives abroad, I am impressed by Derakhshan’s genius work. I find no word to say how I am touched by this brave act. I know, and of this sure, a lot of iranians, especially those amongst bloggers, would like to come to Israel and make a bridge betwen us and those people. And now that Derakshan is almost the first one who has had a big heart to go, unfortunatelly everyone has keplt silence about this event. To give a hint why this has happened, I give you this example: The daily visitors (hits)of Hoder’s blog is only 4300 ( less and more), but he consider also the readers of another group weblog which is written by other people,although maintained by Hoder. Thi grouop weblog is not a personal one and no one comes to read of its news because of Hoder. But Hoder himself by claming those readers as his own daily readers, arise suspection that he struggles to get as much as possible -undeserved- attention. It was not the first time that Hoder useses such unpleaseant tricks. Anyway… I hope iranian weblog community will undrestand the greatness and importance of his deed in going to Israel and neglet his careless, pretendiuos behaviour.

  3. As an Iranian, I am sorry to see that Hossien used this opportunity to blame Bush for everything..he could have talked about Iran’s awful human rights abuses…as this Iranian blogger suggested him to do http://zaneirani.blogspot.com/. Hossien needs a lesson in democracy, maybe someone can give him Natan Sharanksy’s advise:

    “But elections are not a true test of democracy. They are an instrument, one that can be applied well or badly. The same is true of constitution: The Soviet Union had an impeccable constitution on paper, but it was not applied to the benefit of Soviet citizens in practice. It became a meaningless symbol. Elections can be just as meaningless in the hands of tyrants. ………. Free elections are held in an environment where people are free to express their views without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or physical harm. ……

    That is why elections are never the beginning of the democratic process. Only when the basic institutions that protect a free society are firmly in place – such as a free press, the rule of law, independent courts, political parties – can free elections be held or mean anything.” from his book: “the case for democracy”

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