A study in the willful ignorance of history in Iran

James Robbins:

The Holocaust Global Vision conference ended yesterday in Tehran, if it in fact took place at all.

The Iranian regime assembled a collection of oddballs — principally from Europe and the United States — to discuss the merits of various Holocaust-denial theories. The event was an embarrassment to most Iranians, but it was not organized for them. The conference was sponsored by the Iranian foreign ministry, and was openly aimed at undermining Israel and the legitimacy of the Jewish state. In essence, the conference was an Iranian information operation, and its participants mere tools of the theocracy. The conference concluded with a promise to establish a fact-finding commission to get to the bottom of this 60-year controversy, and continue the study of the Holocaust in an environment in which “both sides” may freely debate. Any idea no matter how absurd can flourish under state sponsorship. We have not heard the end of this.

International umbrage notwithstanding, it is not shocking that Tehran would host such a conference. Ahmadinejad has been a consistent Holocaust denier. Nor is this view uncommon in that part of the world. Ask the average man in the street. You will hear a wide range of opinions, from The Holocaust did not happen, to Something happened but nowhere near as severe as believed, to Why couldn’t the Nazis have done a better job?

What is more interesting is the psychology of the deniers from the West. Anyone living in a free society with access to the rich documentary and human evidence of the Holocaust who nevertheless believes it did not happen is at base a troubled soul.

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The willful ignorance of history cannot delegitimize the state of Israel or "the Zionist entity." Zionism predates the holocaust as does the Balfour Declaration which gave impetuous to the rebirth of Israel. Israel had been lost to the conquest of the Romans and later the conquest of Muslims. Its reconquest by the Jews is a fact that will exist regardless of what is said by those who want to deny history.

Perhaps some in Europe have justified their support of Israel because of the events in the Holocaust. But, the most important significance of the Holocaust is that the Israelis know that it happened and are determined to prevent it from happening again. It is why they have been tenacious in the defense of their state. Iran's promotion of willful ignorance of history cannot change that fact.