The Forgotten Friendship: When Iran’s Flag Flew in Jerusalem
A rare 1947 photo captures the Iranian flag flying proudly on Balfour Street in Jerusalem, just steps from today’s Prime Minister’s residence, revealing a long-forgotten chapter of Israel-Iran friendship before the Islamic Revolution.
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This is neither Photoshop nor AI. Balfour Street, Jerusalem, 1947. Just a few houses away from where the Prime Minister’s residence stands today, the Iranian flag was once proudly flown.
This rare color photo was taken by photographer and journalist Moshe Marlan Levin, who captured a moment that now seems surreal: the Iranian consulate on Balfour Street. This consulate, which operated even before the establishment of the State of Israel, continued functioning in the same location for several years after the state was founded.
It’s worth noting: although Iran voted “no” in the pivotal UN vote on November 29, it not only recognized the young state but was also a friend of Israel both publicly and behind the scenes on the international stage, until the Islamic Revolution.
The Persian flag then featured a lion holding a sword with a sun behind it, one of the symbols of ancient Persia. After the Islamic Revolution, the lion was replaced by the word “Allah,” which still adorns the flag today. The three colors of the flag, green, white, and red, symbolize, respectively, Islam, peace, and courage.