(SAPA, 24 October 2000)
Iranian schoolchildren nationwide began their school day on Tuesday chanting slogans against Israel and the United States and in support of the Palestinians after an appeal from the education ministry, state media said. Millions of children chanted "Down with Israel", "Long live Palestine" and "Down with America" before settling down to classes, radio and television reports said. At Tehran's Ibn-Sina school, students interviewed on state radio denounced the "savage violence" of Israeli troops in the latest Middle East unrest which has left more than 130 dead and some 4 000 people wounded. "We want to express our abhorrence of Israel and our support for the war and struggle of the Palestinians," two young students said. Iran has been mobilising public opinion in support of the intifada or Palestinian uprising in the wake of the latest violence. The Islamic republic does not recognise the state of Israel and is opposed to the peace process. Tehran has been pushing for the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland. - Sapa-AFP