Iranian dissidents make solidarity visit to Israel, emphasize ayatollah regime is a common enemy

The State of Israel welcomed a delegation of Iranian dissidents for a solidarity visit amid the ongoing war with the terrorist organization Hamas. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitated the visit, which included Iranian influencers and artists living in exile, mostly in the United States and Europe.

The delegation visited pivotal sites in Jewish and Israeli history, such as the Western Wall in Jerusalem and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center.

Homan Khalili, an artist who actively opposes the Iranian regime, praised the Jewish state as the only Middle Eastern nation that truly supports freedom for Iranians, especially oppressed women.

"I am grateful to Israel for being the only country in the Middle East that stands with the women fighting for freedom in Iran,” Khalili said. The artist noted the ancient friendship between Jews and Persians and the Islamic regime as a common enemy.

“This Persian delegation, comprising Muslims, atheists and Christians, thanks Israel for its hospitality and for standing by our side, just as we stand with Israel against our common enemy - the Islamic Republic of Iran. Let us all remember 3,000 years of friendship and forget the 44 years of conflict," Khalili said.

Ardavan Hatami, an Iranian artist based in Germany, was deeply moved by the visit to Israel.

"I'm grateful for the incredible opportunity to visit Israel and share my music about love and peace between 'my mother' Iran and 'your mother' Israel. My visit to the sites of the October 7 attacks was deeply moving. Seeing firsthand the impacts of violence and the human cost of conflict reinforced my determination to work for peace,” Hatami said.

“The warmth and hospitality of the Israelis touched my heart. Meeting so many kind and welcoming people gave me hope for our future. My visit to Israel is an unforgettable experience that filled me with love, hope and compassion. I will never forget the time I spent in Israel and the people I met there," he added.

Iran and Israel enjoyed close diplomatic and military ties before the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The ayatollah regime immediately severed ties with Israel and branded Israel as the “Little Satan” and the United States as the “Great Satan.”

In July 2021, Iranian dissidents urged former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to support the democracy movement in Iran and stop the ayatollah regime’s terrorism against its own citizens, in addition to Israelis and other countries.

“The regime has produced nothing but poverty, economic bankruptcy, suppression, and a myriad of social problems for the people of Iran,” the Iranian dissidents stated in a letter to the Israeli premier.

In 2022, Bennett sent greetings to the Iranian people during the Persian New Year, Nowruz. The Israeli leader noted how much Israelis and Iranians have in common.

“The Israeli people and the Iranian people share so much…We are both vibrant peoples with ancient histories and rich cultures who seek a brighter future,” Bennett said.

“Together, we also face a common threat – the brutal and oppressive Iranian regime, whether the IRGC (the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), the world’s single largest terrorist organization, its proxies, or the Basij (paramilitary,” Bennett stated.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also acknowledged the bonds between Israelis and Iranians and the ayatollah regime as a shared threat to both nations and peace in Middle East.