Saadat Shukurova Israilov, head of channel 24, vice president of the International AzIz organization and chairwoman of the Donna Gracia Center for Diplomacy, stated in an interview: “Azerbaijan is the world’s center of tolerance. We observe this in everyday life. As we know, Jews have been living in this land for more than two hundred years without claiming any land. The fact that Jews with a similar destiny and roots call the land of Azerbaijan the Motherland, with their great love and sympathy, shows that there was never any anti-Semitism in Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijanis of Jewish origin, regardless of the country they live in, promote their Motherland Azerbaijan in a good way”
According to her, “In fact, the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev said that Jews have two hearts, regardless of which country they live in. One heart beats for their country, and the other for Israel”! The Great Leader also always expressed the opinion that “Jews can always live completely freely in the land of Azerbaijan”. In connection with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the founder of the independent state of Azerbaijan, prominent politician, and statesman. With the declaration of 2023 as the “Year of Heydar Aliyev”, I decided to make a documentary film called “The Great Leader and the Jews” in Israel. And the film has already been made in 3 languages.”
She stressed: “I would like to mention that when Heydar Aliyev established the modern state of Azerbaijan, the policy of tolerance was chosen as the main criterion, and Muslims living in Azerbaijan, as well as other religions and beliefs, were respected and respected. He is a genius who went down in history as the savior of the Azerbaijani people.”
Israelov noted how Heydar Aliyev, “the founder of the Republic of Azerbaijan, will always live on the pages of history as an outstanding politician and statesman. I think that Heydar Aliyev’s legacy should be constantly studied and applied. Because Heydar Aliyev is a great friend of the Jews and Israel, I, as an Azerbaijani of Jewish origin, devoted a great deal of space to the promotion of relations between Israel and Azerbaijan. I consider it my duty to carry out the work assigned to me by filming and promoting the documentary film “The Great Leader and the Jews.”
She concluded: “I would like to note that Netanyahu’s warm attitude towards Heydar Aliyev, his support of Aliyev as a political leader, and, as a result, today’s all-round relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are no secret to anyone. Heydar Aliyev has an exceptional role in the development of these relations. As a Jew, I want to express to the world, by making a documentary film, evaluating Heydar Aliyev’s attitude towards the Israeli people and his right decision, that there is no difference or importance of nationality to be friends and brothers.”
In the wake of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev, the founder of the independent state of Azerbaijan, the documentary “The Great Leader and the Jews” was displayed to residents of the Mediterranean coastal city of Netanya. Student journalist-singer Layla Valayev opened the presentation by greeting the audience with the song “Heydar Xalqim Will Say.”
In the presentation, the presenter Manjana Ahmadova noted that Israel remembers Heydar Aliyev’s important role in establishing friendly and strategic relations between our countries. Constantly learning and applying his heritage, he hoped to be the greatest example of Muslim-Jewish friendship to be shown to the world. Afterward, the audience was shown “The Great Leader and the Jews,” which was well-received.
Rachel Avraham is the CEO of the Dona Gracia Center for Diplomacy and an Israel-based journalist. She is the author of “Women and Jihad: Debating Palestinian Female Suicide Bombings in the American, Israeli and Arab Media.”