Israelis of Iranian origin and Israeli politicians have increased their activities to support the Tehran protest movement, including contacts with the son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Iranian activists in exile. They are hoping that their support will assist the protest movement that erupted a year ago in weakening the Ayatollah-run government.
With Israel mired at the time in an especially heated election campaign last September, Israeli politicians were slow to react to the breakout of the Mahsa Amini protests. Still, since then, an increasing number of politicians are expressing their support for the Iranian women and people. The first-ever visit of exiled Pahlavi in Israel also contributed significantly to raising awareness in Israel and engaging the political echelon in the "Woman, Life, Freedom" global campaign.
Joining other cities around the globe, the central Israeli city of Holon hosted on Sunday afternoon a large rally in support of the Iranian women fighting for their independence and freedom. Most of the attendees were Israelis of Iranian origin and representatives of Israel-Iran associations. Participants waved flags of both countries and held up pictures of people killed during the government’s crackdown on the protesters.
"As a woman and as an Israeli, I could not stand silent when women rights are being trampled on simply because they are women," politician Anat Kinori, who addressed the Holon rally, told Al-Monitor. "The people of Israel support the righteous struggle of the Iranian people for freedom and liberty, and the women in Israel support the struggle of the women in Iran against a brutal oppressive regime."
