When You Wish Upon A Star

If you live in the Islamic Republic of Iran and you are the sort of person who believes there is a Jewish Conspiracy at work in the world, Google Earth has given you more fodder for your perennial nervousness.

From the Jerusalem Post:

Regardless of whether it was happenstance or an act of architectural subterfuge, government officials in Iran were incensed this week when they discovered the outline of a Star of David atop the roof of the headquarters of Iran Air, Al- Arabiya reported on Monday.

The six-pointed star was discovered by an eagle-eyed Google Earth user recently, over three decades after the building that houses the national airline of the Islamic Republic was constructed by Israeli engineers.

Israel and the Shah’s Iran maintained good ties until the Islamic Revolution of 1979 ended the relationship. Before 1979, Israel brokered arms deals with Iran, and there were regular flights between Teheran and Tel Aviv.

Once the existence of the Star of David was reported in Iranian media, government officials called for the immediate removal of the apparently offensive Jewish symbol.

Hard to say whether it was an intentional Easter egg (to mix in a third religious metaphor) left by Israeli engineers 30 years ago, or just a coincidental artifact of the building's design.

Meanwhile, Oye!Times reports that, back in August, some sharp-eyed gazer discovered to their horror that a newly constructed monument to the Revolution in downtown Tehran was covered with hundreds—hundreds!—of Stars of David, causing outrage and calls for its demolition. Probably a more rational solution than forcing everyone who gazes upon it to pluck out their eyeballs. No one knows if it was intentional, or just dumb luck of using geometric patterns.


Photo from an Iranian blogger showing how to spot the offending symbol.

Happy Hanukkah.