From Proxy to Patron: Iran's Relationship With the Palestinian National Movement

May 28, 2019 press@uani.com From Proxy to Patron: Iran's Relationship With the Palestinian National Movement New UANI Report Highlights Iran's Role in Perpetuating Violence and Preventing Peace   (New York, N.Y.) - Since its establishment in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has become a leading patron of the Palestinian movement. As Iran and its proxies begin the celebration of Quds Day this week, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is releasing a new report, From Proxy to Patron: Iran's Relationship With the Palestinian National Movement, which describes how Tehran seeks an independent Palestinian state that is hostile towards Israel, and also uses Palestinian nationalist movements to export its Islamic Revolution. Peace between Palestinians and Israelis would contradict Iran's narrative that Israel is the cause of all conflict and instability in the Middle East. Through its military support to various radical Palestinian factions, Iran has undercut Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations at critical junctures. For the most part, Iran has worked with Palestinian groups indirectly - primarily through Hezbollah - providing manpower, money, and materiel. Iran has provided resources to Fatah, the Palestinian Resistance Committees, a coalition of armed factions opposed to Arafat and Fatah's perceived conciliatory approach towards Israel, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). And in one case, Al-Sabireen, Iran directly established a proxy of its own on the ground in Gaza. Iran also provides direct social support through the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (IKRF) and indirect support through local proxies in order to radicalize Palestinian society and exacerbate Palestinian rejection of peace with Israel. In addition to operating in the Palestinian territories, Iran tries to spread its influence in the Palestinian diaspora, particularly in Lebanon. To explore the UANI report, From Proxy to Patron: Iran's Relationship With the Palestinian National Movement, please click here.

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons.