PA religious official promotes Ribat and Jihad for Al-Aqsa and for Palestine among Muslims

Headline: "Al-Habbash defended the visits of Arabs and Muslims to Jerusalem, emphasized that they are a religious obligation, and criticized those who oppose: They are helping the occupation"

"Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine [and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice] Mahmoud Al-Habbash… emphasized that visiting Palestine, Jerusalem, and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque is 'sacred and blessed Ribat (i.e., religious conflict over land claimed to be Islamic) in the land of Ribat, and every Muslim who comes to it in order to carry out Ribat, whether for a long time or a short time, will merit the reward of a Jihad fighter carrying out Ribat.'

While defending the PA’s request that Arabs and Muslims increase their visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, he added: ‘Ribat is the best Jihad, and Palestine is the best Ribat, as the honorable Prophet [Muhammad] said – your best Jihad is Ribat, and your best Ribat is Ashkelon, and Ashkelon is none other than Palestine.'"