Reza Pahlavi, son of last Iranian Shah, visits Israel for Holocaust Remembrance Day

Former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi arrives in Israel today to observe Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins Monday evening. 

The visit is Pahlavi’s first to Israel and comes during increased tensions between Israel and Iran, as the Islamic Republic tries to take advantage of the political turmoil within Israel, as well as tensions between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations, to isolate the Jewish state. 

Pahlavi announced his visit in a post to social media: “I want the people of Israel to know that the Islamic Republic does not represent the Iranian people. The ancient bond between our people can be rekindled for the benefit of both nations. I’m going to Israel to play my role in building toward that brighter future.” 

I am traveling to Israel to deliver a message of friendship from the Iranian people, engage Israeli water experts on ways to address the regime’s abuse of Iran’s natural resources and pay respects to the victims of the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah.

I want the people of Israel to… pic.twitter.com/wyzlqqm9A2

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) April 16, 2023

Pahlavi plans to visit the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Yad Vashem; the Western Wall; the Baha’i temple and gardens in Haifa; and a desalination plant. Israeli Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel will host Pahlavi during his visit, including accompanying him to the Western Wall. 

Gamliel posted a message in Hebrew announcing Pahlavi’s visit, saying the former crown prince is the most senior Iranian figure to visit Israel and that he represents a different leadership than the ayatollah regime. 

After Pahlavi posted his plans on Twitter, a flood of Israelis greeted the announcement with responses, thanking him and welcoming him to Israel. 

In general, Israelis have been very supportive of the anti-regime protests in Iran, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for the Iranian people on several occasions. 

Pahlavi, who lives in the United States, is seen by many as a figurehead of the Iranian opposition. He supports a democratic revolution to overthrow the government of the clerics. 

He has spoken out against U.S. involvement in a nuclear deal with Iran, calling it “blackmail of the free world.” He also suggested that the U.S. should focus on supporting “Iran’s struggle for freedom and democracy.” 

Pahlavi called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015, brokered by the Obama administration, a “failure” and said it resulted in “the [Iranian] regime becoming even more radical.”  

Pahlavi spoke of creating a Cyrus Accords to restore relations between Iran and Israel, a reference to the ancient Persian king that issued a decree giving the Jewish people permission to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. 

“A democratic Iran will seek to re-establish ties with Israel and its Arab neighbors, as perhaps part of a future Cyrus Accords. In my opinion, that day is closer than ever,” Pahlavi said.