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| Religious War |
"Our war with the descendants of the apes and pigs (i.e., Jews) is a war of religion and faith. Long Live Fatah!”
[PA TV (Fatah), Jan. 9, 2012]
This statement was made by the moderator at a Fatah event, and it highlights a dangerous trend by the PA and Fatah to define the conflict with Israel as an uncompromising religious war, mandated by Islam.
Indeed, Palestinian society has undergone a major shift towards fundamental Islam. In 2010, more than 98% of Palestinians surveyed said that religion plays an important role in their lives, while less than 1% considered religion not important.” [Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies (RCHRS)]. 80% of Palestinians approved of hand amputations for theft, in a 2003 poll, while 50% thought this form of punishment should be implemented immediately, and 30% conditioned it on improved judicial conditions. [Bir Zeit Univ. Development Studies Program, Poll No.14, 2003]
An integral part of this Palestinian Islamization is the teaching that Islam is at war with Jews and Israel. Jews are said to be the enemy of Allah, and PA (Fatah) and Hamas religious and academic leaders alike have reiterated on numerous occasions, including as recently as January 2012 by the PA Mufti, the Islamic teaching that the Hour of Resurrection is dependent on the extermination of Jews:
PA Mufti Muhammad Hussein: “Palestine in its entirety is a revolution… continuing today, and until the End of Days. The reliable Hadith… says:
"The Hour [of Resurrection] will not come until you fight the Jews. The Jew will hide behind stones or trees. Then the stones or trees will call: 'Oh Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.'”
[PA TV (Fatah), Jan. 9, 2012]
Thus, the murder of Jews becomes a prerequisite for and fulfillment of the Islamic ideal. In a 2011 poll, (by Israel Project) 73% of Palestinians said they “believe” the Islamic Hadith that preaches it is Islamic destiny to kill Jews wherever they are.
Similarly, the conflict with Israel is presented as a Ribat, an uncompromising Islamic obligation to defend or liberate Islamic holy land. Israel is said to exist on Islamic holy land that must be liberated for Allah.
One result of the PA Islamic teachings is the strong support for suicide terror in defense of Islam. The Washington-based PEW organization found that 68% of Palestinians “often” (31%) or “sometimes” (37%) justify suicide terror against civilians “to defend Islam.” This 68% of Palestinians justifying suicide terror to defend their religion is twice as much support as in any other Muslim country polled, with the nearest being Lebanon, where only 35% in total supported suicide terror in defense of Islam. [http://pewglobal.org]
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| Conflict with Israel defined as religious |
The PA leadership (Fatah), like Hamas, teach that fighting Israel is not merely a territorial conflict, but also a religious battle for Islam. The PA schoolbooks produced by Fatah educators define the
conflict with Israel as "Ribat for Allah" – "one of the actions related to Jihad for Allah, and it means: Being found in areas where there is a struggle between Muslims and their enemies." [Islamic Education, grade 12, p. 86]. Israel is stigmatized as “an enemy” existing on Islamic land, and fighting Israel is transformed from an Arab nationalistic goal into an uncompromising religious war. Moreover, Palestinian youth are taught that their specific conflict with Israel is "one of the greatest of the Ribat, and they [Palestinians] are worthy of a great reward from Allah" [Ibid, pp.86- 87].
This video shows a PA member of parliament from the Fatah party, describing the war with Israel as continuous: “We Palestinians were created on this land in order to liberate it. We are on the land of Ribat and must remain [on it] Ribat until Resurrection.” |
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PA minister: Continue Ribat and Jihad until Jerusalem is returned
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Dec. 21, 2012
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PA TV broadcast the Friday sermon delivered by PA Minister for Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash at the Tashrifat Mosque in the PA presidential compound, Ramallah on Dec. 21, 2012. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and the Secretary General of his office, Al-Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim, were in the congregation.
Habbash: “We say to the whole world, we say to the occupation government, to whoever supports the occupation government to whoever defends the occupation government in international forums: As Allah lives, we are continuing what we do; we are continuing our Ribat (religious conflict to defend Islamic land). We are continuing our Jihad. We are continuing with our resolve. We are continuing to hold on, until Allah grants us victory, until Allah grants victory to our cause, until our Jerusalem is returned to us, until our state is established, or until we die. As Allah lives, this is one of two good things: Victory or Shahada (Martyrdom death for Allah). There is no third option. Either victory or Martyrdom death.”
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PA daily columnist: The Palestinian nation is engaged in Ribat
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 21, 2012
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In his weekly column in “Sermon,” the religious supplement to the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sheikh Taleb Al-Silwadi wrote:
“And here we have our Palestinian nation, engaged in Ribat, (religious conflict/war defending Islamic land), the strong Jihad fighter, adhering to its religion and faith, challenging the tyranny and oppression of the Zionists, those descendants of monkeys and pigs who thought they could deny us our strength. They forgot that Allah will rise up with us and that their policy is fraud and deceit. The Prophet, may blessing and peace be upon him, experienced this before we did when he and the Banu Hashim (a clan of Muhammad’s tribe Quraish – Ed.) were boycotted economically and socially by the infidels and pagans at Shib Abi Talib (an area where according to Islamic tradition, Muhammad’s Banu Hashim tribe stayed for a number of years while subjected to a boycott by the Quraish tribe, Muhammad’s tribe which rejected him as a prophet. – Ed.) until redemption came from Allah, may he be exalted.”
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Hamas TV: "Repeat in the name of your Jihad: Death to Israel!"
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Source:
Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Nov. 22, 2012
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On Nov. 14, 2012, Israel launched an aerial offensive in the Gaza Strip called Operation Pillar of Defense, with the aim of crippling the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and protecting Israeli civilians from Hamas rocket fire. On Nov. 22, one day after Hamas and Israel brokered a ceasefire, Hamas broadcast the following music video:
"Destroy the throne of Zion, the house of absolute evil
Raise the banner of victory
Be like the fire of a volcano
Repeat in the name of your Jihad: Death to Israel!
With blood and fire, resist until freedom
Defeat the soldiers of aggression the enemies of humanity."
Click to view video |
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"Killing Jews is worship that draws us close to Allah" - Hamas music video
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Source:
Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Nov. 18, 2012
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Music video by Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades:
"Bless [Hamas'] Al-Qassam men, guardians of Palestine
Oh pride of Salah Shahada, oh wisdom of Immad [Aqel] (Hamas leaders killed by Israel)
[Oh] the explosives of [Yahya] Ayyash, (Hamas bomb maker killed by Israel), Martyrdom,
[oh] lovers of the trigger:
Killing the occupiers is worship that Allah made into law.
(Arabic text: "Killing Jews is worship that draws us close to Allah")
Arise, oh determined men.
The color of [the Martyr's] blood protects the land.
Oh masked one wearing a keffiyeh (Arab head scarf), terrifying the Jews...
call out in Zionism's face: 'Muhammad's army has begun to return.'"
Click to view video
Click to view bulletin
Note: In response to Hamas' ongoing rocket fire against Israel, Israel launched Operation Pillar of Defense on Nov. 14, 2012, aimed at crippling the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. On Nov. 21, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. This video was one of many broadcast by Hamas during the conflict, as part of their campaign to scare Israeli soldiers and civilians. |
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Fatah military wing spokesman: The Palestinians are in Ribat (religious conflict/war)
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Source:
Al-Ayyam, Oct. 26, 2012
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“Abu Muhammad, spokesman for the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades (i.e., Fatah’s military wing)… said… that the arrests [by Hamas security forces] of the [Fatah military wing’s] Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades fighters happen at a time when the Palestinian people, which is in Ribat (religious conflict/war defending or fighting for Islamic land), is subject to continued bombings and liquidations by the Israeli occupation’s planes and tanks. … In a press release the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades demanded of all the factions [carrying out] armed actions that they return to the option of resistance in confronting the occupation, and emphasized that they will continue the resistance in all its forms. They said that there is no ceasefire with Israel and pointed out that they won’t stop their attacks until every last part of Palestine is liberated.”
Click to view bulletin |
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PA Minister of Religious Affairs encourages Ribat in Friday sermon
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Aug. 17, 2012
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Friday sermon delivered by Minister of Religious Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash. In audience: PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas; Secretary General of the Presidential Office, Al-Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim; Jibril Rajoub.
Al-Habbash: "This [Al-Aqsa] mosque will remain a mosque. We will not abandon this soil; we will not abandon this land; we will not abandon this mosque. We will remain in it, we will live in it and we will die in it. We will resist through our presence upon our land. We will resist through Ribat (religious conflict/war to defend Islamic land) and resolve; we will resist by building, and we will resist by every means... Ribat upon this land is an honor… Yesterday, this occupation perpetrated a crime. It was carried out by one of the members of the terror movements, who are referred to as the so-called 'settlers'. These settlers are all – all of them – terrorists; terrorists in the full sense of the word. Every settler who lives upon Palestinian land, who steals Palestinian land, is a terrorist."
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Hamas official: Peace will be achieved “with Allah… with Jihad, with resistance… and with Martyrs”
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 14, 2012
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| "Minister of the Interior [in the Hamas government], Fathi Hamad, said that there is no peace with secularism, and that there will be no rule but the rule of Islam. During the ceremony marking the first graduating class from the police academy in Gaza, Hamad said: 'There is no peace with secularism. Peace is first and foremost with Allah, and thereafter with Jihad, with resistance, with the people, and with the Martyrs (Shahids).' He added, 'We support the home front in Gaza, which is the bridgehead for the liberation of Palestine. We declare that anyone who has settled in our land by force, should plan to leave.' He added, 'The land of Palestine will agree to accept only pure soldiers,' and noted that some of the officers of this graduating class would go on to become police commanders in Haifa, Jaffa, Acre, Lod and Ramle." |
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PA TV song accuses Israel of fighting Palestinians in God’s name
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Feb. 24, 2012
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“My country - they [Israel] usurped, divided and stole
The truth - they mutilated
The freedom - they suppressed
Our fields - they burned and seeded with our corpses
Our villages - they uprooted and replaced with their houses
In your name, oh God, they tortured me
In your name, oh God, they expelled me
They destroyed, in your name,
they ruled in your name, oh God, hear my prayer
In our homes - they attacked us
With destruction - they threatened us
To ruin - they pushed us.”
Click to view video
Click to view bulletin |
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PA Mufti Hussein: "This nation will continue to pursue Ribat on this land"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Feb. 3, 2012
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On Jan. 9, 2012, PA Mufti Muhammad Hussein delivered a speech presenting the killing of Jews by as a religious Islamic goal. PMW's exposure of the Mufti's speech brought Israeli and international condemnation of the Mufti and the PA. PA TV program Good Morning Jerusalem interviews PA Mufti Muhammad Hussein concerning Netanyahu's attack on him in the wake of his statements:
Hussein: "Unfortunately, the truth is that this is an honorable Hadith that was brought in the context of a long speech [delivered] at the 47th anniversary of the outbreak of the modern Palestinian revolution. I spoke about our people's problems; I spoke about our people's resolve; and I spoke about our people's suffering, on that occasion. The speech led me, naturally, to talk about this people remaining on this land. It came as a message that this nation will continue to pursue Ribat (religious conflict/war to defend Islamic territory) on this land, and mention was made of this Hadith that, to tell the truth, talks about things which will happen at the End of Days. However, by the nature of things, [if we take] religious texts, and separate them, take them out of context and understand them out of context, then certainly, someone who wants to malign, to create propaganda and to blow things out of proportion – will take a piece of what he wants. |
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PA Mufti response to PMW’s exposure of his hate speech: Maintain Ribat (religious conflict/war) in Jerusalem
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Source:
Al-Quds, Jan. 25, 2012
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On Jan. 9, 2012, the principal PA religious leader, Muhammad Hussein, delivered a speech presenting the killing of Jews by as a religious Islamic goal. The following is the Mufti’s response to PMW’s report on the speech and Netanyahu’s subsequent condemnation of it, in the official PA daily:
"The right-wing Israeli organization 'Palestinian Media Watch' published an excerpt of the speech delivered by [the Mufti] Sheikh Hussein a few days ago at the ceremony marking the anniversary of the outbreak of the Palestinian revolution...
Speaking to Al-Quds, [the Mufti] Sheikh Hussein rejected the Israeli attack… In an exclusive statement to Al-Quds in response to the decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to instruct the Attorney General to open an investigation against him [Hussein] on grounds of incitement and Antisemitism, [Hussein] said: 'There is no doubt that all of this turmoil is part of the campaign against Jerusalem, its inhabitants, and its leaders; it is aimed at diverting attention from the actions of the Israeli government and its branches in Jerusalem and in the Palestinian territories – especially the incessant excavations, [the destruction of] the Mughrabi Gate bridge, and the destruction of more Palestinian homes.' ...
He said that the inhabitants of Jerusalem are being constrained and are being prevented from entering Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He emphasized resolve and maintaining Ribat (religious conflict/war) in Jerusalem and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. |
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Hamas official: “We are fighting a holy war… because Jihad is our way”
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 24, 2012
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Headline: "Al-Zahar: Hamas will not abandon armed resistance"
"Mahmoud Al-Zahar, a prominent Hamas official, emphasized yesterday that his movement 'will not abandon' armed resistance against Israel. In a speech he delivered at a ceremony honoring the 'Shahids (Martyrs) of the Al-Zaytoun region'… marking the third anniversary of the war [waged by Israel] against Gaza, Al-Zahar said: 'We are fighting a holy war for our honor and our rights, because Jihad is our way, our life, and our greatness, and we will not forego it – no matter how great the sacrifices.' He continued, 'We shall not abandon the armed conflict with the Zionist enemy.'"
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Moderator at Fatah ceremony: "Our war with the descendants of the apes and pigs (i.e., Jews) is a war of religion"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Jan. 9, 2012
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Moderator at Fatah ceremony:
"Our war with the descendants of the apes and pigs (i.e., Jews) is a war of religion and faith. Long Live Fatah! [I invite you,] our honorable Sheikh."
PA Mufti Muhammad Hussein comes to the podium and says:
"47 years ago the [Fatah] revolution started. Which revolution? The modern revolution of the Palestinian people's history. In fact, Palestine in its entirety is a revolution, since [Caliph] Umar came [to conquer Jerusalem, 637 CE], and continuing today, and until the End of Days. The reliable Hadith (tradition attributed to Muhammad), [found] in the two reliable collections, Bukhari and Muslim, says:
"The Hour [of Resurrection] will not come until you fight the Jews.
The Jew will hide behind stones or trees.
Then the stones or trees will call:
'Oh Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.'
Except the Gharqad tree [which will keep silent]."
Therefore it is no wonder that you see Gharqad [trees]
surrounding the [Israeli] settlements and colonies.."
Click to view video
Click to view bulletin |
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Fatah official: "We will continue to be people of Ribat upon this land"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Jan. 9, 2012
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Celebration of 47th anniversary of the establishment of Fatah and the beginning of the Palestinian revolution. Broadcast from Jerusalem, possibly edited.
Omar Shalabi, secretary of Fatah’s Jerusalem branch: "On this anniversary we recall the Martyrs (Shahids) of the revolution and the Martyrs of the [Fatah] Central Committee... We will continue to act and to be people of Ribat (religious conflict/war defending Islamic land) upon this land, until Allah implements his word… Thus, according to the Quran’s verdict, according to Allah’s verdict, Israel is destined to vanish, Allah willing.'" |
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Fatah Advisory Council member: Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a “religious war”
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 29, 2011
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| "Palestinian philosopher and member of the Fatah Advisory Council, Ahmed Ghneim, called to adopt what he referred to as a program for the Palestinization of Jerusalem as well as a clear Palestinian world-view for dealing with the program of Israelization which Israel is carrying out in Jerusalem… This was during a conference held by the Ministry of Information in Qalqilya yesterday evening… Ahmed Ghneim spoke about the historical background of Jerusalem… Ghneim reviewed the repeated efforts of the Zionist movement to seek a legend that would draw Jews throughout the world, and turn them from a religion into a nation… He noted that the insistence on declaring Jerusalem the eternal capital [of the Jewish people] means that the war is a religious war, even though Israel has no right to Jerusalem – not religiously, not legally, not politically, and not historically." |
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Mufti of Jerusalem calls on “all Palestinians to be Ribat fighters”
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Dec. 28, 2011
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PA TV broadcasts live from a conference in El-Bireh on protecting mosques from settler terror. Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestinian territories, Muhammad Hussein:
“I call upon all Palestinians to be Ribat (religious conflict/war) fighters, as Allah wants of them, upon these lands; to defend their beliefs, to defend their holy places, and to defend their rights upon this blessed and good land."
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PA Minister's different message to foreign audience: Conflict is not religious
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 18, 2011
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"Minister of Religious Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, met yesterday at his office with the Norwegian Minister of Church Affairs…
Habbash noted that the Palestinians believe in religious co-existence, love, and tolerance between people, to bring about peace and justice. He said that the disagreement between Palestinians and Israelis is not a religious one, but rather a disagreement whose reason is the [Israeli] occupation and settlement on the Palestinian territories. He also said that security and stability would not be attained in the Middle East unless the occupation was removed, settlement stopped, and an independent Palestinian state established."
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PA TV shows footage of Arafat glorifying Martyrdom-death and defining the conflict with Israel as religious
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Nov. 10, 2011
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PA TV news report about Arafat with background photographs of him with Clinton, Rabin, Barak:
"From Madrid to Oslo and Washington, and what came between them and what followed, culminating at Camp David, Arafat remained true to the [Palestinian] right. And then the negotiations collapsed because of the Israeli arrogance, and the land was set on fire with the Intifada of 2000."
[Recording played of Arafat in his headquarters in Ramallah: They want me a prisoner, expelled, or dead – no! I say to them – A Martyr! A Martyr! A Martyr! And they [Palestinians] are in Ribat until the Day of Judgment. The Shahid (Martyr) [in Jerusalem] is [worth] forty Shahids (elsewhere). Allah, grant us Shahada (Martyrdom death) on the land of Ribat (religious conflict/war), the first direction of prayer, the third most important place after the two mosques in Mecca and Medina."
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Columnist in PA daily glorifies Ribat and Martyrdom for "Palestine"
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 24, 2011
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From religious section of newspaper, religious columnist Sheikh Taleb Al-Silwa:
“An anniversary dear to our hearts awaits us – the date of Muhammad’s Night Journey, that was both a physical and spiritual event for the Prophet, confirming for us the sanctity of blessed Palestine and Ribat (religious conflict/war to defend Islamic territory) upon it. It was Allah’s will that the place of this tremendous sign should be Jerusalem, the first Qiblah (i.e., direction of prayer) and the third most holy place after the two honored holy places (i.e., Mecca and Medina). This is clear proof, so that every Muslim can be certain of the significance of unity and Ribat and the affinity among the parts of the Islamic land. In view of this anniversary that we are about to commemorate, we must stress the following points:
1. The land of Palestine is a single land that cannot be divided, no matter what the circumstances…
2. …
3. To emphasize the greatness of Ribat and Martyrdom upon the land of the Resurrection.” (According to Muslim tradition, resurrected souls will assemble in Jerusalem. – Ed.) |
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Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine: “We are Ribat fighters… and will remain on this land until Allah makes his ruling”
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Oct. 28, 2010
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Friday sermon at the mosque of the PA presidential headquarters.
Speaker of sermon: Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine. The Mufti notes that Muhammad taught that Muslims/Palestinians are a link in the ongoing chain of Ribat from the dawn of Islam until today.
Mufti Hussein: "We [Palestinians] are Ribat fighters, we are resolute, and we are rooted in this land. Yes, we will be in this land and will remain upon this land until Allah makes His ruling."
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PA TV song: "This is the day of Jihad, pull the trigger"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Sept. 12, 2010
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Band member recites a poem:
"Fight, brother, the flag will never be lowered,
the torches will never die out."
On [Mt.] Carmel (in Israel) and in the [Jordan] Valley,
we are rocks and streams.
In Lod (Israeli city) we are poems, and in Ramle (Israeli city) – grenades.
We, my brother, shall remain the revolution of the fighting nation."
Vocalist sings:
"The Zionists went out from [their] homelands,
compounding damage and enmity.
But the Palestinian revolution awaits [them].
The orchard called us to the [armed] struggle.
We replaced bracelets with weapons.
We attacked the despicable [Zionists].
This invading enemy is on the battlefield.
This is the day of consolation of Jihad.
Pull the trigger.
We shall redeem Jerusalem, Nablus and the country." Click here to view |
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