 Interview
with
Muslims "Hizboul’lah Moukatilloun" and
"Al Tawheed-Ansar Al Arab Fighters"
By Maximillien de
Lafayette, Ruth Sielberg and Peggy North in Iraq and Lebanon
THE NEW TARGETS OF AL QAEDA IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD: IBM,
COCA COLA, PFIZER MICROSOFT, McDONALDS and Much More...
MUSLIM TERRORISTS SEE THE CIA AS A JOKE!
ABOU HUSSEIN: “THE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE IS ONE MILLION TIME BETTER
AND MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE CIA AND AMERICAN SPIES!”
Photos from T to B: #1. A
training/briefing center of Hizbou’llah (The Party of Allah) in the
Islamic Southern Lebanon. Notice the slogan/public statement on the
wall: “OUR ENEMIES FOREVER USA & ISRAEL”. #2. Typical faces of
Hizboul’lah fighters and suicide bombers. Their motto and sole
objectives are: 1- To completely annihilate Israel. 2- To recapture
Palestine and establish an Islamic state in Israel/Palestine. 3-
Get rid of and or murder all the Jews and Christians and
particularly their ethnic and religious foes, the Maronites in
Lebanon. 4- To establish a Muslim Fundamentalist regime in Iraq
under the auspices of a Shiite (Shi’aa) Iraquo-Iranian Unified
Alliance and get rid for good of the Christian Assyrians (Ashuris)
and Syriacs in Iraq and Syria, once Israel is defeated. This will
lead to massive waves of massacres of Jews and Christians in all
the Arab and Muslim countries, including the Jews and the Copts in
Egypt, Sudan, Somalia and neighboring Muslim African countries.
 LEBANON
AND IRAQ- They explained to us what they want, how they will fight
America and Israel, and how they will destroy Zionism and American
Imperialism! They admitted that they fear Massad and the Israeli
agents who infiltrated many Arab and Muslim countries and
particularly Turkey, Syria and Lebanon. They mock the CIA and their
“powerless and idiot” agents in the Near East. It was neither safe
nor easy to interview Ahmad A., Mahmoud S. and Abou Hussein who are
known to their compatriots as “honorable” men and “freedom fighters”
and most certainly portrayed by westerners as bloody killers and
terrorists. Ahmad
belongs to "Ansar Al'Arab". Previously, he was a militia fighter from
"Al Mourabitoun" and "Al Hizboul' Nasiri " (Lebanese Muslim party of
the followers of Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, created in early 70s by
Najah Wakeem, a Christian Orthodox lawyer who defeated the very
powerful Christian Orthodox Representative Nasim Majdalani of the
District of “Mazraa” Beirut, in the 1970 Lebanon’s parliament
elections. The half-dormant “Nasiri” party is based in the regions
of Mazraa, Mousaytbeh, Corniche Al-Mazraa, Al Barbir and Bastah in
Lebanon. Ahmad maintains two residences in Lebanon and Syria. He
studied at "Al Makased" high school located near “Al Barbir Hospital”
in Beirut. He earned a law degree from "Ain Shams" University in
Egypt. He taught briefly at an Arab school "Al Ma'had Al Arabi" (Arab
Lyceum) in Bastah, Beirut. Also, he is a published author and a poet.
He assured us that he has never killed an American or a Jew, but he
will not hesitate a second to cut an American's throat and blow up
the head of George Bush in pieces if he could.
 Mahmoud
is an active member of "Al Tawheed", referred to in the United States
as a very dangerous terrorist organization; a sub-organization of Al
Qaeda. Previously, Mahmoud was a member of "Al Ikwan Al Mouslimin"
(The Muslim Brothers or The Muslim Brotherhood) based in Cairo,
Egypt. Mahmoud told us that "AL MOUKHABARAT (Police or Secret
Service) of the late Anwar Al Sadat, former president of Egypt
tortured him with electrical wires and gadgets. He currently lives in
Iraq. He holds an engineering degree from the American University in
Cairo. Previously, he worked as a motion pictures set designer for
famous Egyptian stars like Ahmad Ramzi, Choukri Sarhan, Hind Salameh
and Berlinti Abdel Hamid. "I never killed an American before, but I
will kill Bush "Ibn Al Kalb" (Son of a dog) in a second.
Abou Hussein
is a "strategic operator" from "Hizboul 'lah" (The Party of Allah:
The Party Of God). Previously, he rendered his services to the Syrian
Al Baa'th party in 1976; a Shiite-Alaouit party which was under the
control of the late Hafez Al Asaad of Syria, the father of the
current president of Syria. He served the Iraqi Al Baa’th party in
1978 which was under the direct control of Saddam Hussein. He
frequently meets with "brothers" and very active anti-Israel “suicide
missionaries” in Iran, Syria and United Arab Emirates. He holds a
degree in political sciences from the "Arab University" of Beirut,
located in a predominant Muslim area, nearby the Palestinian camp of
Sabra. His two brothers were murdered by Bashir Al Jemayel’s
Christian militia "Al Kataeb" during their assault on the Palestinian
camps of "Sabra" and “Tal Zaatar”. He admits that he killed many Jews
who lived in “Wadi Abou Jmil” in Beirut and Christian Lebanese during
1958 civil war/revolt against Lebanon’s former Christian President
Camille Chamoun, and during the 15 year civil war in Lebanon which
started in 1975 in the region of “Ain El Remanneh” bordering the
district of “Shiah” in Beirut. He too, denied having killed
Americans but "Now I am fed up with Bush, our honor has been
tarnished by Bush and I am willing to do anything and everything in
my powers to kill every Jew and American I see anywhere, any time."
Abou Hussein told us.
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In brief, the trio's motto and
objectives are to destroy Zionism, free Palestine from all Jews, and
keep America out of the Middle and Near East. Strangely enough, those
three men are religious and devoted fathers. One of them is already
a grandfather. They believe in the last judgment, in “Jannah and Al
Nar” (Paradise and hell), in traditional Islamic family values, in
Mohammad as the only "Rassoul" (Messenger of God). They revere Mary
as "Sittina Maryam" (Meaning: Our Lady Mary) because she was highly
respected and honored in Al Quran in a lengthy chapter called "SOURAT
MARYAM". They believe that Jesus is not the son of God but "Min Rouh'
Allah", meaning from the breath or soul of God. They call Jesus "Issa"
as epistemologically derived from “Yashou”. They believe in Moses and
the prophets of Israel because the Prophet Mohammad said so in his
“Al Hadith Al Sharif”, meaning the speeches and dialogues of Mohammad
with his followers and Ulemas. In fact, the Quran recognized Jews and
Christians as “Min Ahl Al Kitab”, meaning “The People of the Books,
or the “People of the Sacred Book.”
Abou Hussein,
Mahmood and Ahmad love American hamburger, Coca Cola, Levi’s blue
jeans, Madonna, Britney Spears, the movies of Humphrey Bogart, Robert
Taylor, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, Burt Lancaster and Jack Palance.
The greatest Mohammad Ali is their favorite hero because he used to
hit his foes and win with "KABDAT AL ISLAM" meaning: The champion
who hits and wins with the "The fist of Islam" And yes, if they have
the opportunity to live and work in Israel or the United States, they
will do it in a heart beat!
LEADERS OF TERRORISM WHO HIT THE WORLD BY THE NAME OF ISLAM
Photos from L to R:
#1. Sheik Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hizboul’ lah political leader. #2.
Sheik Kassem Naim, Nasrallah's deputy as political leader of Lebanese
Hizbou’ lah. #3. Sheik Mohammad Hussein Fedlallah, Hizboul’ lah
religious leader.
LANDING IN
BEIRUT
 Photo:
A Muslim day time butcher and night-volunteer freedom fighter at
Sabra (Remnant of Fateh Palestinian Camp) in the Muslim section of
Beirut.
We landed in Beirut International Airport, known also as “Khalde”
airport. Previous arrangements were made to receive us at the airport
and to drive us to our hotel located in the area of “Al Manarah”
facing the beautiful Mediterranean sea. Two gentlemen impeccably
dressed were waiting for us, as well as a high ranking security
officer from the "Al Amn Al Am "(National Security Directorate). One
of the gentlemen reassured us that shortly we will be meeting with
Mahmood and his friends. The meeting was scheduled for early evening
at a cafe located in the region of “Ras Beirut” near “Sakyet Al
Janzeer”, not far away for our hotel. Three hours later, the same two
gentlemen who met us at the airport picked us up in a Mercedes sedan
from our hotel and drove us directly to a designated cafe which
served Lebanese food, American hamburger, French fries and believe it
or not American milk shake and New York’s style bagels. We did not
know what to expect, who to expect to see and who will be attending
our interview. But so far so good. Everything appeared to be smooth
and safe. The side-walk cafe was packed. One could not ignore the
elegance of the Lebanese women who were drinking, chatting, making
jokes and laughing loudly. Ismael, one of our escorts directed us to
a table where evidently Mahmood and his friends were seated. A 6 foot
tall man, elegantly dressed, wearing a Christian Dior's tie and
expensive crocodile shoes stood up, smiled to us, warmly welcomed us
and greeted us in English and Arabic: "Welcome, welcome, Ya Ahlan Wa
Sahlan", meaning in Arabic: You are most welcome. And this elegantly
dressed up man was nobody else than Mahmood himself. He introduced us
to his friends who were equally well-dressed and kept on repeating
"Welcome to Beirut, welcome to Beirut." We did feel some warmth and
sincerity in the way he received us and more particularly in the
manner he displayed civility and courteous demeanor toward two
western ladies. Yet, we remained very cautious and alert all the
time.Without asking us what we wish to order, to drink or to eat,
Mahmood took the liberty to order a fleet of dishes of all sizes and
shapes of Lebanese favorite national specialties and appetizers, such
as “Warak Bi Arich” (Grape leaves), “Lisanat” (Lamb tongues),
“Baba Ghanouj” (Eggplant mousse), “Mejaddara Msafayeh” (Lentil mousse
or salad), etc. It was a feast to the eyes. We started to count how
many dishes were brought up, and if we were not mistaken, no less
than 40 dishes were already on the table. It was really something
unique. However, no hard alcohol was served. We ordered two bottles
of Perrier. Mahmood and his friends, to our great astonishment,
ordered Amstel beer. We thought that Muslims do not drink in public,
little did we know. And they drank like a fish! Khaled one of the
gentlemen sitting at our table assured us that "Bon Viveurs Muslims
drink as much as Jews and Christians do." Mahmood took the
initiative to tell us that he is ready for the interview. And the
interview began, verbatim and unedited; meaning printed as is,
without editing or correcting grammatical or linguistic errors.
WHAT DO THE
TERRORISTS THINK OF THE CIA?
MAHMOUD: “THE CIA IS DEAD IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THE CIA
IS A JOKE!”
AHMAD: “THE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE IS BETTER THAN THE
CIA.”
Q:
What do
you think of the CIA? Do you fear the CIA? Mahmood: "Yahni"
(Meaning: I mean), the CIA today is nothing, very weak. The CIA was
strong in the Middle East some 25 years ago. Around 1975, the CIA was
finished in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iraq and in many Arab countries.
Before 1975, they were probably everywhere. But after 1975, the CIA
became "nothing". But, but, I know they are still in Egypt, Cyprus,
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Many of them are now in
Iraq, Saudi Arabia, a sizable number in Pakistan, India and
Afghanistan. Actually, we know who they are and what they are doing.
And we know what we should do with them. Q: What do you
mean? Mahmood: I mean, we know how to get them "like
birds". Q: What do you mean like birds? Mahmood: I
mean it is easy to shoot them like we shoot small birds. Q:
Do you fear the CIA? Ahmad: I fear only Allah. The CIA
is a joke. The Israelis are better than the CIA. Q: What do
you mean by a joke? Ahmad: For almost 20 years, the CIA tried
to recruit Arab people to spy on the Palestinians, Abou Ammar (Nick
name of Yasser Arafat), Egyptian government, the Saudi Royal family,
Syria, Lebanon and Israel itself. Even, they sent spies to Dubai, Abu
Dhabi and Sharjah in the Arab Gulf. We know the CIA have spies in
Oman, Jordan and Turkey. We know also that the CIA is very active in
Istanbul, Saudi Arabia, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. But,
they could not penetrate Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. Before 1958, the
CIA did well. After 1958, the CIA lost many agents in the Middle
East, including Cyprus, Malta and Greece. The Americans thought that
they can bribe Arab people. They were wrong. Of course, America has
collaborators and traitors from several Arab countries. But those
traitors have no access to vital information. They are stooges. We
know who they are. We have a complete list of their names. They are
either members of former Arab regimes, overthrown governments, boring
professors at American universities, journalists at Al Hourra
television station, this is another Bush’s administration joke,
or advisors at the Heritage Foundation, Council of Foreign Affairs,
and contributors to television stations in America, such as Fox News.
And they know nothing. So you see, the CIA when it failed to
penetrate our groups, the CIA had no choice but to listen to “ARAB
TRAITORS AND OUTSIDERS” who live in America. So, what the CIA got
from them? Nothing! Wrong information, false reports and false
intelligence. You see, those Arabs who became American citizens did
not return to their countries for many many years. So, realistically,
they know nothing about our operations. They are outsiders and we do
not trust them. So we do not share information with them. The
Israelis know that. But the Americans don’t, because they are
ignorant and arrogant. Q: And how about the Israeli
intelligence? Ahmad: They are much better. At least, they
know what they are doing. They know what to do. Q: Do what?
Why the Israelis are better than the Americans? Mahmood:
Mossad operates quite differently from the CIA. They are more
effective despite their relatively limited resources and means. I
will give you some examples:
ARABS AND MUSLIM TERRORISTS’ ANALOGY BETWEEN MOSSAD
AND THE CIA.
1-The
Israelis are here. They have been here for centuries. They know
the lands. The Americans just arrived with their Playboy Magazine,
cheap deodorants, tasteless coffee, funny haircut and smelly fried
chickens. The Americans don’t know the Arab countries and their
lands.
2- The Israelis
are everywhere. They blend with the local Arab communities. Anyway,
many of them are Israeli Arab or Arab Jews. The Americans
concentrate themselves and group their men in particular and
restricted areas, usually in exclusively reserved “sections” or
habitats for Americans. So, it is very easy to spot them, target
them and hit them. The Israelis are more careful and “discreet”.
They know how to hide, where to hide and how to avoid being spotted
and located (sometimes). The Americans don’t.
3-The Israelis
lived with us for so many years, so they know how we think, what we
eat, what we like and dislike, how we do business, where are our
shops, who teaches at our schools, the names of our streets, cafes
and where we meet and socialize. The Americans don’t.
4-The Israelis
speak Arabic like Arabs. Some of them have become experts in
various Arab dialects and tribal accents. The American’s don’t.
5-The Israelis
know the Middle East, they just live here. They know their way
around. They know what to look for. They are extremely familiar
with our villages, cities, roads, hills, mountains, schools,
bazaars, souks (Popular markets), trade centers, shops and stores,
infra-structure and sub-structure of our societies, our families
traditions, religion, worship and prayers rituals and protocol. The
Americans don’t.
6-The Israelis
look like us, or maybe I should say, we do look like them. Many of
them were Arab Jews from Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon,
Iraq, even Ethiopia and Sudan. The Americans look very different
from the Arabs. You know that already. Many Muslims and Arab
people, men and women were arrested and detained in America because
they looked like Arabs; they have become the usual suspects because
they look like Middle Easterners.
7-The Israelis
are very careful and very cautious. They don’t trust the Americans,
the CIA or anybody else. And most certainly, they do not trust
Bush, The White House, The Pentagon and this carnival of one
million intelligence agencies in the United States. The Americans
heavily rely on information provided by outsiders, free-lance spies
and what other foreign embassies tell them. The Israelis don’t.
8-The Israelis do
their own homework. They check everything and spy on everybody.
They travel all over the world and disguise themselves very well.
And because they speak so many foreign languages, they easily blend
with many different peoples from many different countries in the
world. People who work for the Israeli intelligence speak French,
English, Arabic, Italian, Russian, Spanish, German, so many
languages. And when they are in Europe, in America, in Arab
countries and Spanish countries, they look exactly like Europeans,
Americans, Arabs, French and Spanish people. Americans don’t. I can
spot an American spy at 10 kilometers but not an Israeli spy!
Impossible! Very few Americans speak foreign languages. And if they
do, they have an awful and uncultivated thick American accent.
Israelis don’t.
9-Mossad and
Israeli spies are more intelligent than the American spies and CIA
people. Israelis can think like an Arab, an Egyptian, a
Palestinian, an Omani, a Lebanese. Americans don’t. Americans are
limited in the way they think, see and analyze things. They see the
world from a very close American point of view.
10-Israelis in
general and Israeli spies in particular are international and
universal in the way they adapt to new environments. Americans
remain Americans wherever they go. It so easy to recognize them. We
used to look at many tourists and watch Europeans and non-Europeans
sitting inside and outside French and German cafes, trying to
figure out who is an American and who is not. Who is a Frenchman
and who is not. Who is a Muslim and who is not. It was very
difficult to do so. But, as soon as an American walks into a café,
we recognize him on the spot. Try to spot an Israeli agent in an
European café. It is almost impossible .
11-The Americans
brag a lot about their military operations, the successes of their
spies rings and “spectacular” accomplishments. The Israelis don’t.
12-The American
intelligence agencies constantly recruit (When they can) or at
least try to recruit foreigners who are not always reliable and
knowledgeable of facts and events. The Israelis don’t.
13-The
American
intelligence network(s) are disorganized and chaotic. There are so
many spying agencies, counter-espionage agencies, national
securities agencies, national security groups and so on. Thank God,
they do not coordinate things and share information. And as you
know very well, they hate and distrust each other. The Israelis
don’t.
14-The Americans
in general are very materialistic and vain. Those Americans who
join the CIA or the FBI, even the police in America are not always
motivated by a sense or feeling of patriotism. Many of them do it
because they are hungry for power. They love to flash their badges
and intimidate people. And if they get a better job offer, they
quit in a heart beat. They go where the buck is. This is why, we
see so many FORMER CIA and FBI agents every single night on the
American television, as analysts, anti-terrorism experts,
consultants and advisors. They quit their agencies to create their
own private business. Such thing rarely happened in Israel, except
for a few Israeli airlines safety and security experts who came to
America to work as consultants. Israelis who join Israel’s secret
service are not motivated by financial gain or hunger for power.
They do it because they want to serve, just like us, the Arab
freedom fighters.
WHAT THE ARABS REALLY WANT FROM THE UNITED STATES AND
PRESIDENT BUSH?
THE INTERVIEW
Photo: A Muslim day time butcher and night-volunteer freedom fighter
at Sabra (Remnant of Fateh Palestinian Camp) in the Muslim section of
Beirut.
Peggy:
What it would take to make peace between the Fundamentalist Muslims
and the United States?
Mahmood:
First, let me tell you something. There is no such thing as
Fundamentalist Muslims. This is a fabrication by Bush and the
Americans. Either you are Muslim or you are not. I am a Muslim and I
don't understand what do you mean by Fundamentalist Muslims. If you
mean they are terrorists, you will be making a big mistake. We are
freedom fighters and we are fighting for our countries. I read a lot
about early American wars and battles against the Indians. I mean
the American Indian tribes, about David Crocket and the Alamo. Would
you call the Americans who were with David Crocket fighting the
Mexicans, would you call them Fundamentalists and terrorists because
they were defending their lands? No! Would you call them
Fundamentalist Christians? No! I know. We, the Arabs, the Muslims we
are doing the same thing. We are defending our lands against Israel
and America who wants to change our way of live, our political system
and create a more powerful Israeli state in the Middle East. We do
not hate the American people. We only hate Bush and the first Bush
too.
 Photo:
A 4 year Muslim child (Arab boy of a Pakistani ethnic background)
with a revolver in a Muslim stronghold training center, where Islamic
ideologies, terrorism tactics and anti-Israel doctrines are taught
and where militia training is provided 7 days a week.
Madam Peggy. Look, what we want is very simple...please madam Peggy
and you too madam (talking to Ruth), please eat something, this is
delicious...you will not find this in America... OKKAY (with a strong
accent), we will make peace with America and Bush or any American
president, if America will do this:
Number one
(Counting on his fingers): We want America out of our lands. Out of
Iraq, out of Bahrain, out of Kuwait and out of Saudi Arabia. We will
stay friends with the Americans, we will do business with the
Americans, we will do import and export and trade with the Americans
but, the American forces must leave immediately. Don't misunderstand
me, I did not say civilian Americans. Civilian Americans are welcome
to stay and work here, as long as they are not spies and working for
the CIA. You understand? We have no problem with the American people.
We have problems with Bush people.
Number two:
America must stop helping Israel. I mean, America should cease to
interfere in the Palestinian affairs. Palestinians have the right to
a homeland.
MUSLIM FANATICS WOULD NOT HESITATE TO DROP DIRTY BOMBS ON WASHINGTON,
NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA. THEY ALREADY HAVE THEM IN THE UNITED STATES,
CLAIM FUNDAMENTALISTS.
Ahmad
(Interrupting):
Yes, yes, of course. You see, America is interfering in our lives.
Why America is siding with the Israelis? Because Jews are powerful in
America. Even, the diplomats, the officials and the advisors, America
sent to Iraq to temporarily govern Iraq were Jews. And listen to
this, it is getting worse. The people who were entrusted by America
to write the "Dastour" (Constitution) of Iraq were Jews. Many
American ministers of Defense were Jews. Twelve Jewish companies got
billion of Dollar contracts to rebuild Iraq! Abou Hussein
(Interrupting): All our problems come from the United States. America
interferes in Palestine. America interferes in Iraq. America now is
interfering in Syria, Libya, Korea and Iran. And how about
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan? Americans are everywhere. They want to
rule the world. I will tell you something. If the United States will
continue to do this, the only way to stop it is to "throw" atomic
bombs on Washington, New York, California and big American cities. Ruth:
Do you mean that? Are you telling me that Arabs or Muslims have
nuclear weapons? An atomic bomb? Ahmad: Of course, we have
nuclear weapons and many atomic bombs. Peggy: Who has atomic
bombs? Bin Laden? Where are those atomic bombs? Ahmad: You
will be amazed if I tell you. Ruth: Tell us. Frankly, I do not
believe you! Ahmad: Okkay! This is what you think! They are
not very big atomic bombs but strong enough to kill millions and
millions of Americans and Jews. We have engineers and scientists from
Pakistan, Malaysia, Korea and Indonesia. Also we have very bright
students who graduated from American universities in America and
abroad. They know how to make atomic bombs. Many of them are already
in America. As a last resource, we will "detonate" the bombs. Peggy:
The Arabs have atomic bombs in the United States?! Where? Abou
Hussein: Do you think we are going to tell you? Do you think I am
going to tell you. What do you think I am a donkey? Ruth: Who
made those bombs? Abou Hussein: They were made in
Pakistan, Korea and Indonesia. Other bombs were made in Iran. Peggy:
So, Iran has a nuclear weapons program? Ahmad: Of course. Ruth:
Since when? Abou Hussein: Since 1992. Peggy: How
can you be so sure? Saddam Hussein claimed to have nuclear weapons
and weapons of mass destruction, and yet, no weapons or chemical
arsenals were ever found in Iraq. Iranians could claim the same
thing?
AL QAEDA OPERATES IN MORE THAN FIFTY
COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES. MORE ATTACKS ON THE UNITED
STATE ARE INEVITABLE. THEY HAVE BEEN ALREADY SCHEDULED!!
Ahmad (Laughing):
Americans are so stupid. Of course Saddam Hussein had nuclear and
biological weapons. We moved them to “Baalbeck”, “Saida”,
“Trablous” (Tripoli), “Bekaa”, to Syria and Iran. Many trucks from
the Syrian, Iraqis and Iranian armies moved them 5 months before
the Americans came to Iraq. We also have many gas bombs in New
York, Florida and Michigan. Ruth: Where is the central
headquarters of Al Qaeda? Ahmad: Al Qaeda is no longer
"everything". Now, there are many Al Qaeda groups everywhere. Al
Qaeda is a concept, an ideology. Do you understand? It is a
philosophy. Faith! You kill one member from Al Qaeda, the next day
we will have 10 more new members. You cannot kill Al Qaeda. Al
Qaeda is big, is everywhere, in Saudi Arabia, in Malaysia, in
Lebanon, in Syria, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Egypt,
in Sudan, in France, in England, in Spain, in Greece, in America,
in Bangladesh, in the Gulf (United Arab Emirates), do you want me
to continue
THE ORIGINAL CHOSEN TARGETS DID NOT
INCLUDE THE WORLD TRADE CENTER!?
Peggy:
Who planned the attack on the World Trade Center in New York? Was it
Al Qaeda? Bin Laden himself? Abou Hussein: More than 3
organizations worked on the attack. Al Qaeda had the money to finance
the mission. But, the "Shabab" (Men power) came from everywhere,
Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, Holland, Spain, England
and from everywhere. They were chosen from our best training camps in
the Middle East, Europe and America. Ruth: You have training
camps in the United States? Ahmad: Of course, we have. And
what you have seen is nothing. Wait and see. More attacks are
coming. Peggy: You are going to attack the United States? What
targets do you have in mind? When are you going to attack?
Ahmad:
We don't know. Nobody knows. Only those who were selected for very
particular and specific missions would know about it. And, I am
sure, they will be briefed about the mission, only 24 hours before it
happens. Anyway, all instructions are usually sent to our men from
outside the United States. Peggy: Did you know about the
attack on the World Trade Center? Did you have any previous knowledge
of the attack? Ahmad: I did not. I don't think anybody knew.
Peggy: How about you, Mr. Abou Hussein? Did you know? Abou
Hussein: No, I did not know. No body knew up front, not even
those who attacked New York. It is true, the plan of attack was
already planned and scheduled in Amsterdam, Madrid and Germany but,
full details and instructions were not given to our people. They had
to wait for further guidelines and final instructions to be given to
them in New York and Miami. Ruth: So how and when they
knew. They must have known all the details and received prior
instructions to carry on and execute their mission? Don't you think
they had to prepare themselves, make arrangements, contact each
other....Certainly they needed enough time to highjack the airplanes,
watch the airports, rent cars, arrange transportations, etc.. They
had to know about the attack, the target,
the
time...They
had to get ready. They had to prepare
themselves?
THE ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES
WERE PLANNED IN HOLLAND AND GERMANY.
Peggy: Where were the hijackers at the time of the attack on
the World trade Center? Ahmad: They were instructed to wait in
New York. The instructions and orders came three days before the
attacks. Some of the brothers were still in London, somewhere in
Europe and outside New York. Yes, they needed time to travel to New
York. So, let's say 3 days. No more than that. Peggy: So, they
came from everywhere? Where did they meet first? Did they meet in New
York first, or in Europe. Abou Hussein: It does not matter
where and when they met each other, because they did not know what
was the whole plan. Besides, at the very beginning, each person
operated independently. This is how usually we operate. I think only
one person knew about everything because he had to take care of the
logistics and expenses. Ruth: Who was this person? Abou
Hussein: Only Allah knows! You see, New York was not the first
choice. Our men had other ideas. We did not want to kill innocent
people in New York. We have surveyed the area and knew that many
Muslims from our countries work there. We did not want to cause them
any harm. And... Peggy: Wait a minute, please. So, if you have
previously surveyed the area, and knew how many Muslims work at the
World Trade Center, this tells me that you and your people knew in
advance that the Word Trade Center was THE target...Right?
(Ahmad interrupted me and spoke with anger in Arabic to Abou
Hussein. I did not understand what he did say to Abou Hussein and to
the others). He paused for a few seconds and said: Can we talk about
something else, please? Ruth: One more thing and we will
change the subject. Mahmood: OKKAY! Ruth: Did you know
Attah? Mahmood: No, I didn’t not. I am telling you the
truth. "Waalah Al Azim", meaning in Arabic: I swear by the name of
God the majestic. Ruth: So what was the first choice, I mean
the places you targeted to attack in the United States? Mahmood:
The plan was to attack Bush first, The White House, do you
understand? Secondly, we wanted to attack the American Pentagon. We
did not want to kill civilians this time. We wanted to teach Bush a
lesson and show him that we can hit him any time, even in his own
home. But plans changed the last minutes. The third target was the
CIA headquarters. We knew that the Pentagon, and especially, the
third left wing was not well guarded. Many of our men visited the
mall at the Pentagon many many times and gathered information about
the Pentagon. Another target of a great importance was the Capitol
where members of the parliament meet.Ruth: I see.
THE
NEXT POSSIBLE ATTACK TARGETS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Peggy:
Are you planning on attacking the United States, again? Abou
Hussein: Not me. Mahmood: Not me. But somebody else
will. Ruth: Do you know who is going to be? Somebody else,
like who, for instance? Al Qaeda, possibly? Mahmood: No, not
Al Qaeda, other people. They have to prove themselves. Peggy:
Can't you tell us? You don't have to tell us everything. Mahmood:
It is going to be everywhere. And this time our people will
attack and kill everybody, men, women, everybody. No distinction. Ruth:
Any particular targets in the United States. Ahmad: We have a
long list of targets. What Bush is going to do? Guard every meter in
America? I don't think so. He is busy now with his presidential
campaign. Mahmood:
We pick
up new targets as we go. Peggy: What do you mean? Ahmad:
We mean that targets change following new developments.
Sometimes, the people we want to hit move from here to there and from
there to here, like Bush, for example. Ruth: What do you
mean? Ahmad: I mean, listen, I will give you an example. We
planned on attacking Bush in The White House. Few hours before the
attack, we knew that Bush left Washington to Florida. We could not
attack him in Florida, because we did not have plans to do that. So,
The White House attack was no longer important. What do we want from
The White House? Stones? No. We wanted Bush.
THE WHITE HOUSE, THE CIA HEADQUARTERS, THE CAPITOL AND THE PENTAGON
WERE THE ORIGINAL AND MAJOR TERRORISTS’ ATTACK TARGETS
Peggy:
So what were the major targets? The ones you previously planned to
attack? Ahmad: We wanted to attack The White House, the CIA,
the Capitol, the Pentagon. At the last minute, The White House was
replaced by the World Trade Center in New York. The new instructions
came from our people in Germany who were coordinating things. Nothing
was decided upon in America. We were watching Bush movements all the
time. Ruth: Weren't you afraid the United Air Force could
intercept the planes you hijacked and shoot them down? Abou
Hussein: Not at all. We knew, it will take the Americans long
time to intercept the planes. The Americans are never prepared. They
are so arrogant. They think nothing is going to happen to them.
Besides, we have already calculated the time needed to attack each
target. We knew that The White House was heavily protected on the
ground but not in the air. The same thing for the Capitol and the
Pentagon. Look, madam, we can attack any place we want in America. It
is a big country. Peggy: Reports show you could not attack
The White House for other reasons. Officials in the United States
claim that the pilots refuse to fly the planes over The White House.
Others claim that fights broke up on the planes and the passengers
took control of the planes. Correct? Ahmad: Not correct at
all. I am not going to tell you everything. If this is what you
think, you are wrong, so are the Americans. We had another airplane
ready to be taken from Washington. Actually, we had two airplanes.
The second one was waiting for us in New York. It is more complicated
than you think. In total, we had 5 airplanes part of the plan and
ready for us.
It was getting very late. We began to feel exhausted from our trip
and we had to call it for the night. Our next interview meeting was
scheduled for the next day at 10:00 AM at a café on Bliss Street,
near the AUB (American University of Beirut). Abou Hussein wanted us
to visit his family and have a lunch with his wife and children. And
he seemed genuinely sincere. He told us that his wife Aisha is a very
good woman and a very good cook. She would like very much to prepare
for us delicious Lebanese specialties. "She is an expert cook. You
have to eat from her hands. She makes the best Tabbouli, Hommos and
Kibbeh Nayeh (Sort of Steak Tartare: Raw meat blended with Bourghol)
in the country. It would be a great honor if you accept our
invitation. My home is your home." Said Abou Hussein. We told him,
certainly, we will come to his house, once the interview is finished.
We could not figure out, how such a warm and generous man, who is a
loving father and sincerely well-mannered gentleman could kill
innocent people and train youngsters on explosives, manufacturing
bombs, cutting throats and blowing up houses. So we had to call it
for the night. This time, Mahmoud himself drove us back to our hotel.
With extreme courteous mannerism, he opened the door of the car and
gently closed it behind us, always smiling and repeating "Ya Ahlan
Fikoum", meaning in Arabic: You are welcome. We arrived to the
hotel. Mahmood walked out of the car, went to open the car's door for
us, bowed gently and wished us good night. Then he decided, to
accompany us (inside the hotel) right to the elevators. Then, he told
Peggy that he wishes to introduce us to the concierge of the hotel
before we take the elevators. He escorted us to the desk of the
concierge and introduced us to him. A young gentleman who spoke
fluently French, English and Arabic. Mahmood told him that we were
his friends and he should take care of us. Mahmood left and we rushed
to our rooms for we were dead tired. We woke up the next morning at
9:00 AM, started to get ready and soon after, rushed to the first
floor to wait for Mahmood in the lobby of the hotel. He arrived
exactly at 10:00 AM as he said he would. This time Mahmoud drove the
car himself, no bodyguards, no entourage, except for Abou Hussein who
was sitting in the backseat of the car. This time Abou Hussein was
wearing a Levi's blue jeans and very expensive "Red Shoe" label pair
of shoes. Mahmoud was impeccably dressed and his very strong French
fragrance almost suffocated us. He was wearing "Aramis" fragrance. A
really bloody strong fragrance. But we did not mind. We had one
thing on our mind, finish the interview and leave Beirut as soon as
possible.
The second interview included Q&A about Henry Kissinger, President
George Bush, possible forthcoming attacks on selected targets in the
United States, Arab-Russian intelligence collaboration, Al Chalabi's
affair, the CIA, important information about Bin Laden, briberies at
the United Nations, alleged falsified and fake statements by Vice
President Cheney, training camps in the United States, close
relationship between Pakistan's Mousharraf and Bin Laden, possible
Arab and Muslim spies and informers who infiltrated various
intelligence agencies in the United States!!! New coalition of
Sunnis and Shi'a militia forces in Basra, Mousol, Karkouk, Al
Fallujah, Baghdad and Al Najaf to kill Americans and kidnap American
leading figures involved in the Iraqi occupation, bank accounts
opened under the name of members of Tallas family, (Syria's Tallas
Minister of Defense) to facilitate the transfer of an astronomical
amount of money to finance terrorism operations worldwide, as well
as alarming news and threats by terrorists!
MORE KIDNAPPINGS AND KILLINGS EN ROUTE!!
Peggy:
Are you going to continue to kidnap Americans and behead them? Ahmad:
This is just the beginning. Now, our brothers are kidnapping "simple
and ordinary" Americans. Soon, we will begin to kidnap and kill
really important American businessmen and politicians. We will get
every American in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Abou Hussein: And
soon, we will destroy all the weapons and airplanes factories in
America. Ruth: You will keep on killing innocent Americans
in Saudi Arabia and Iraq? Ahmad: Of course, every single
American. We don't want foreigners and westerners in our countries.
And don't think that the Saudis are on your side. And we will kill
every Arab and every Muslim who does business with Americans. Ruth:
Are you planning on kidnapping and killing innocent Americans working
in other Arab or Muslim countries, as well? Ahmad: Everywhere!
We will kill them wherever they are, if they are living or working in
a Muslim country. We will search for them in Saudi Arabia, Turkey,
Algeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iraq, everywhere. Something else, don't
think Al Qaeda is the only group who is fighting the Americans. New
groups are created every day and everywhere. America cannot stop us.
Bush is the worst president in the whole world. Soon or later, we
will get him, if not now, next year, and if not next year, two years
from now, we will kill him even if it will take us 10 years! He is
already dead! Wait and see. Abou Hussein: We have the list of
all American employees who are working in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. We
will get them one by one. We know where they work, where they live,
we know everything about them. Peggy (talking to Abou
Hussein): Are you a Sunni or a Shiaa? Abou Hussein: I am a
Muslim. Ahmad:
"The Americans will kill Saddam first. Our
sources tell us that Bush and the CIA will assassinate him.
Abou Hussein:
"Bush has no
principles. Before, he wanted to kill Sader. Now, he promised him a
post in the Iraq new cabinet if he stops the fight."
Ahmad: Look, madam, if the Saudis will try to hurt us or stop us,
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, boom, will disappear from the face of
the earth. We have very strong people and friends in the Saudi
government and in the royal family. Try to understand once for good,
the whole Arab world and every Muslim in the world is against America
because Bush destroyed Iraq. Ruth: Do you think Iraq was a
democratic country under Saddam Hussein regime. Ahmad: No
body is saying that. Try to understand. Bush made a big mistake. The
Americans came to Iraq and took Saddam. This is not my problem.
Actually, I never liked Saddam. He had many enemies in the Middle
East. Moubarak hated him. Al Assad hated him, Moamar Khazafi hated
him. The Saudis hated him. Everybody hated him. But Bush the son of a
dog, should have stopped bombing Iraq and killing the Iraqi people
when the Americans captured Saddam. Okkay, the Americans won the war,
Okkay, why didn't they leave Iraq after they captured Saddam? That
was their big mistake. Ruth: Do you want Saddam back? Ahmad:
No, we don't want him back. You can keep him. I care less about
Saddam. We don't want him to come back to Iraq and to become a
president again. This will never happen, because the Americans will
kill him first. Our sources tell us that Bush and the CIA will
assassinate him. Ruth: How do you know this? Ahmad:
The same people who work for the CIA and Bush work for us too. Many
of our people are on the CIA payroll.
THE
RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACK ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER!
MANY ARAB LEADERS AND HEADS OF STATE ARE ON THE
PAYROLL OF THE UNITED STATES.
Peggy:
You must be joking? Ahmad: I am not joking. I know what I am
telling you. Do you think a Muslim will betray a Muslim? Never. Look
at Al Chalabi, he was on the payroll of the CIA. He was a friend to
the Iranians too. Husni Moubarak gets 1 billion Dollars every year
from the Americans. King Abdallah, the same story. Everybody is on
the payroll of the CIA. It does not mean that they are friends with
the CIA. They are using the CIA. The CIA is stupid. They are donkeys.
They tell lies to the CIA. And the CIA believes them. Ruth:
And how about the Arab leaders who are denouncing terrorism? Do you
think that they are on the CIA payroll too? Ahmad: I just
explained to you. They are laughing at the CIA. Ruth: It was
my understanding that Muslims were not totally united. The Shiaa
suffered a lot under the regime of Saddam Hussein. Abou Hussein:
I know, but when it comes to Muslims fighting against America and
Israel, we are all united in our Jihad against the Jews and the
Americans. You see, you don't know much about us. Peggy: Are
you getting any help from the Russians? Ahmad: We did in the
past but now we don't trust the Russians anymore. They betrayed us. Abou
Hussein: They reported us to the Americans. They gave them
information about what we did in New York. Peggy: Hold a
second, please. Are you telling us that the Russians knew about the
World Trade Center attack? Ahmad: Of course. Peggy: How
did they know? Mahmood: From their spies in Istanbul. And I
think the CIA dogs knew too but did not know all the details. They
knew it is going to be New York but they did not know what to do. The
stupid CIA caught innocent Muslims in America and tortured them. They
arrested and jailed good Muslim people in America who had nothing to
do with anything. Ruth: So, you are operating under the nose
of the Saudis! Abou
Hussein: Why do you say under the nose
of the Saudis? The Saudis know what we are doing. Do you think, the
Saudis like the Americans? "Miskin Aklik", meaning in Arabic: I have
a poor mind or a stupid mind. The Saudis are financing our
operations. They are good Muslims. Don't listen to what this or that
Saudi Prince or Saudi ambassador says in public or tells the media
Peggy: Mr. Mahmood, I have one or two questions left for you.
What do you think of the CIA today? Mahmood: "Yahni" (Meaning:
I mean), the CIA today is nothing, very weak. The CIA was strong in
the Middle East some 25 years ago. Around 1975, the CIA was finished
in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iraq and in many Arab countries. Before
1975, they were probably everywhere. But after 1975, the CIA became
"nothing". But, but, I know they are still in Egypt, Cyprus, Dubai,
Abu Dhabi, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Many of them are now in Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, a sizable number in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.
Actually, we know who they are and what they are doing. And we know
what we should do with them. Peggy: What do you mean? Mahmood:
I mean, we know how to get them "like birds". Peggy: What do
you mean like birds?
Mahmood: I mean
it is easy to shoot them like we shoot small birds.
Ruth: I have the last question for you Mr. Mahmood. Are you going
to keep on terrorizing and killing innocent Americans in Iraq and
Saudi Arabia. Mahmood: Madam, please, do not insult my
intelligence. You know very well they are not innocent. Tell me why
they are here? I will tell you. They are here to spy on us, to kill
us, to take our country from us. They are not here to work. The whole
world goes to America to work. They don't need to come to Iraq or
Saudi Arabia to find jobs. There are plenty of jobs in America. So,
they are not innocent at all. Yes, madam, we will continue to kidnap
Americans until they leave our lands. And now we are going to do
something bigger. We are going to start to hit big American companies
in Saudi Arabia, like Coca Cola, McDonald, IBM, Microsoft, American
Standard, Pfizer... Please tell your American friends to leave our
countries.
We had to stop here and wrap up the article. Mahmood invited us to
have a diner with his friends. He said: "And now, madam Peggy, madam
Ruth, we are going to take you to a very nice place in "Bhamdoun". A
very very nice place in the mountain. We will have "Meza", meaning in
Arabic: A feast or a small banquet consisting of 50 or 60
different kinds of Lebanese and Arab specialties and smoke "Argileh",
meaning in Arabic: Narghile, the water pipe smoking tobacco. We had
to explain to him that we had to finish the article and send it to
the magazine, if he wanted to see it in print. We apologized to him
and thanked him for his hospitality and cooperation. And that was the
first and last time we saw Mahmood, Ahmad and Abou Hussein. Before
leaving, Mahmoud and friends gave us few presents: Two boxes of "Melabbas"
(Almond candies) and two boxes of "Baklawa" and one "Masbaha" (A
fancy jaded rosary). It was quite a learning experience. A memorable
encounter we will never forget.
SOME
STATISTICS:
Fundamentalist
Muslim and Terrorists Organizations
According to Mahmood, there are more than 15 Muslim-Non Arab and
50 Muslim Arab independent, organizations, sub-organizations,
affiliate fronts and groups solely founded to fight the United
States, Israel, US allies and Jews worldwide. They are operating in
Indonesia, Malaysia, Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt,
Spain, USA, Ethiopia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, etc. The most
notorious ones are:
1.Al
Qaeda
2.The
Islamic Army
3.The
World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders
4.The
Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places
5.Islamic
Salvation Foundation
6.The
Group for the Preservation of the Holy Sites
7.Abu
Nidal Organization
8.Al
Tawheed Organization
9.Al
Ikhwan Al Muslimin
10.Ansar
Al Arab
11.Abou
Sayyaf Group
12.Armed
Islamic Group
13.Harakat
Al Moujahiddin
14.Hizballah
or Hizboul’ Lah
16.Palestine
Liberation Front- Abou Abbas Group
17.Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine
18.Ramzi
Youssef Group
19.Al
Mourabitoun
20.Nabih
Birry Group
21.Al
Sader Front, also called Shabab Al Sader and Shabab Al Nasr
22.Hamas
23.Imad
Al Alami Group
24.Al
Intifadah
25.Muslim
Jurists on Jihad
26.Yahya
Ayash Group
27.Al
Zarkawi Group
28.George
Habash Organization
29.Arabian
Peninsula Al Jihad
30.Al
Sahikaa (Affiliated with the Syrian army)
31.Fallujah
Brigade
32.Harakat
Al Nasr
33.Al
Moukawama Al Sha'biya (Affiliated with Hizboul’lah. Operating from
the Muslim district of Beirut)
34.Harakat
Al Tahrir
35.Joubhat
Al Tahrir
36.Al
Imam Ali Front. Originated in South Lebanon in Saida and Sour and
financed by Iran and Iraq.
37.Indonesian
Al Jihad Group. Originated in Jakarta. Financed by Bin Laden and
wealthy members of the Saudi Royal families
38.Kuala
Lumpur Jihad Group. Financed by wealthy Muslim businessmen from
Malaysia and Indonesia with a direct link to Bin Laden et al
39.A
small group of extremely fanatic Muslims called Jaysh Al Tahrir;
remnants of the Al Jaysh Al Arabi which was created in 1974-1975 in
Beirut. The Jaysh Al Arabi also known as Jaysh Loubnan Al Arabi
(Arab Army of Lebanon or Army of Lebanon The Arab) was placed under
the control of a Muslim Lebanese brigadier general named Abdel Aziz,
who previously served in the regular Lebanese army. Apparently
this man wrote several Arabic encyclopedias and was highly
decorated by various Arab countries. He made several trips to the
emirates of the United Arab Emirates along with Ghaleb Fahs, a
Shiist (Shia’a) figure and a former Director General of the
Ministry of Youth and Sport of Lebanon, himself a former colonel in
the regular Lebanese army. He was also a close friend to general
Ali Ali Amer from Egypt who served as the commander-in-chief of the
United Arab Forces of the "Arab League" based in Cairo.
40.The
most recent and bloodiest terrorist organization is Al Maghrabi
Group which mushroomed in Algeria and is currently extremely active
in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. This group managed to recruit thousands
of fanatic Muslims and particularly Saudi nationals from Riyadh,
Al Khobar and Al Tai'f areas.
41.The
Voice of Jihad, operating in Saudi Arabia
42.Michel
Aflack Group remnants. This group is financed by Syria. It played
major destructive role in the civil war of Lebanon, For a while, it
vanished from circulation, later it resurfaced in Algeria,
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
43.Jabhat
Al Falujah (Front of Squadron of Al Falujah) recently created in
Iraq but originated in Saudi Arabia three weeks ago.
44.Al
Islah: An extremely dangerous organization created in May 2004 and
operating in Malaysia, United Kingdom, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.
Their specialty is to capture and kill westerners working in Saudi
Arabia. They are well-connected to the official authorities and
police of the Saudi Kingdom.
45.Abdel
Aziz Al Mukrin Front. Originally established in Somalia. This is an
extremely dangerous terrorist organization specializing in bomb
making with close ties to Al Qaeda and the followers of Sheik
Mohammad. They are currently operating in Saudi Arabia.
46.Al
Madri Group, an extremely effective terrorist organization
established in 1982 in Lebanon and Afghanistan by Al Madri himself
and active fighters from Hizbul’ lah in Southern Lebanon. This
group was responsible for the killings of several CIA agents,
including operations officer, Mr. Higgins. The United States have
been trying to locate this group for the past twenty years without
any apparent success. Recently, this group moved to Saudi Arabia
and to the eastern and western regions of Afghanistan. Some
observers claim that Al Madri group met with Pakistan's Mousharaff
military intelligence on more than one occasion.
Intifada toll
2000-2005
|
 The
four years of the Palestinian intifada have cost more than
4,000 lives. B'tselem, an Israeli human rights group, has been
tracking casualty figures on both sides.
Most of the statistics cover
the period from 29 September 2000 to 15 January 2005.
PALESTINIANS KILLED BY ISRAELIS*
 3,135
killed by security forces in the West Bank and Gaza
including 627 aged under 18, 181
killed in extrajudicial executions and 288 (including at least
29 aged under 18) killed in the course of these assassinations.
54 killed by security forces in Israel
including one aged under 18
34 killed by Israeli citizens in the West Bank and Gaza
including three aged under 18
*There are no figures to show
the proportion of Palestinians who were combatants and those
who were civilians.
ISRAELIS KILLED BY PALESTINIANS
 431
civilians killed in Israel
including 78 aged under 18
218 civilians killed in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
including 34 aged under 18
218 Israeli security forces killed in
West Bank and Gaza
83 Israeli security forces killed in
Israel
PALESTINIANS KILLED BY PALESTINIANS
.jpg) 101
killed by Palestinian civilians on suspicion of
collaborating
29 killed by members of the
Palestinian security forces (for September 2000 to September
2004)
3 Palestinians killed by gunfire from
Palestinians shooting at Israeli civilians (for September 2000
to September 2004)
2 Palestinian security forces killed
by Palestinians attacking Israeli soldiers (for September 2000
to September 2004)
Foreign citizens killed
33 foreign citizens (including two
aged under 18) were killed by Palestinians in Israel
10 foreign citizens were killed by
Israeli security forces in the West Bank and Gaza
9 foreign citizens were killed by
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza
Killings by foreign citizens
3 Israeli civilians were killed by
foreign citizens (for September 2000 to September 2004)
PALESTINIAN CITIZENS OF ISRAEL
(for September 2000 to September 2004)
Palestinian citizens of Israel killed:
13 Palestinian citizens of Israel
were killed in Israel by the Israeli police and border police.
4 Palestinian citizens of Israel were
killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip
Killings by Palestinian citizens of
Israel
(for September 2000 to September 2004)
3 Israeli citizens were killed in
Israel by Palestinian citizens of Israel
1 member of the Israeli security
forces was killed in Israel by a Palestinian citizen of Israel
(The above figures do not include
Palestinians who died because medical treatment was delayed due
to Israeli restrictions on their movement, nor does it include
those killed by explosive devices which were on their person.)
|
|
|
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Arab World
and Arab Media Justification of Acts of Violence
By Maximillien de Lafayette
What usually, Arab heads of states,
politicians, scholars, moderate leaders and reporters tell
the American public, IS NOT what they tell their own
people and state in the Arab media.
Most recently, the Arab media including AL
AKHBAAR and Al AHRAM, two leading newspapers in Cairo
presented a very "special" Arab point of view and scenario of
the Sinai bombings. It is intriguing and amusing to learn how
editorials in leading Arab publications interpret and explain
terrorism and bombings caused by their compatriots. Publicly,
and in English, the editorials appear to be siding with the
United States, and encouraging perpetual peace with Israel.
However, if we read the texts in Arabic, the whole story and
whole intentions of the Arabs change drastically. According
to AL AHRAM, the Sinai bombings presented Sharon with an
opportunity to further marginalize the Palestinian cause. The
Egyptian media reports that Sharon will exploit the bombings
with relish. Furthermore, Arab editorials argue that Israel's
Gaza rampage was not just a response to the firing of Qassam
missiles. It does not mean that Arabs have to subscribe to
claims that Israel needs no excuse for its actions. Arab
Media Commentaries: " You cannot impose a unilateral solution
to a conflict without recourse to extraordinary levels of
violence." A verbatim translation of selected articles and
comments in the Arab media goes like this: " The latest
Israeli incursion into Gaza was not unrelated to the
rudimentary weapon -- missile is perhaps too grand a term for
these devices -- Gazans have developed to fight the situation
into which they have been thrust, a situation, unprecedented
in modern history, that essentially locks a million and a
half people into a prison with two gates. Israeli violence in
Gaza, in Jenin and Nablus, is structurally integral to the
problems of disengagement -- you cannot impose a unilateral
solution to a conflict without recourse to extraordinary
levels of violence. And this is alarming, for, despite all
the peace efforts deployed by Israel to bring peace to the
region, Arab media, constantly undermines those efforts and
Israel's intentions and the possibility of peace negotiations
with Arab countries, particularly Syria. The October's
general message conveyed by the Arab Media in Egypt, Syria,
Sudan, Yemen and Lebanon as published on the very front page
of their leading publications goes like this: "Unlike the
Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon where a sovereign state
claimed control and responsibility on the evacuated areas,
the issue in Gaza is not just one of unilateral withdrawal,
but of redeployment on conditions Israel believes will
consolidate its control over areas of the West Bank. It hopes
to control Gaza with less friction from the outside and annex
parts of the West Bank while at the same time improving its
international standing and alleviating international
pressures to engage in a settlement process Israel neither
wants nor can engage in given its current leadership and the
state of public opinion." Several commentaries and articles
appeared in AL AHRAM stated that it is the Qassam missiles,
though, that have thrown into relief Israel's threadbare
justifications for the construction of the security wall and
unilateral disengagement. The wall cannot hold even against
such a primitive weapon. Israel is perfectly aware that after
the redeployment of the Israeli troops the occupants of Gaza
will never accept their fate as prisoners, will not accept an
occupation at arm's length from the other side of a wall,
certainly not in the absence of even the promise of a just
settlement and a resolution to the question of Palestinian
national sovereignty. "Conducting a survey among so-called
moderate Arab scholars and political leaders, the common Arab
belief is that Israel is not taken in by its hollow
demagoguery about the culture of "terrorism". It is perfectly
aware of the causes and knows exactly what to expect. It will
make every attempt to minimize the possibility of Palestinian
reaction, by using all its military capacities to produce a
climate of fear.
THE TWO FACES OF ARAB MEDIA AND
POLITICAL LEADERS
While, publicly, and in speeches in
English given by President Mubarak and members of his
cabinet urging the United States to enhance the peace process
in the Middle East and welcoming Israeli's "sincere"
initiatives, contradictory statements in Arabic are regularly
printed in the Arab press. For instance, one of the
commentaries of AL AHRAM stated: "The brutal assault against
Gaza is, then, an attempt to provide an answer to a knot of
intertwined problems. There are, for example, domestic
political issues, raised by those who question the
feasibility of suppressing Palestinian resistance by brute
force. The Israeli government's answer is to move from one
kind of violence to another, from one phase of escalation to
the next, hence the military incursions into poor residential
areas and targeted assassinations in Damascus. There are also
strategic questions over how to inhibit the development of
the Palestinians' capacity to resist following unilateral
withdrawal. " Another chocking statement was recently
published in the AL AHRAM newspaper: "Israeli efforts in
this regard have been greatly facilitated by the Sinai
bombings, the first operation that has allowed a link to be
made between international terrorist networks and the
Palestinians, and the first time international terrorist
operations have been mounted around the borders of Palestine.
DENIAL AND HYPOCRISY
Quite often, Arab leaders and especially
the Egyptians publicly wash their hands from violent measures
taken by the Palestinians. Even, the Palestinians upon
meeting with high level aides at The White House, denounce
terrorism acts. But their public statements as published in
the Arab media are quite different. Some messages and
commentaries are regularly reinforced and elaborated upon by
editors in the Arab media. For instance, political analysts
at AL JAZERRA, AL AKBAAR, AL SAFIR and AL AHRAM stated that
regardless of their positions vis-à-vis the Egyptian-Israeli
peace treaty, the Palestinian factions maintain good
relations with Egypt and want to keep it that way. If asked,
the factions would all reply that only harm could come from
attempting to rock the economic or political stability of
Egypt. More importantly, Palestinian political organizations
have made it clear that they will not target Israeli citizens
abroad. Disengaging from violence of any sort against
civilians in nations outside Palestine was a wise decision,
in spite of the fact that the Israelis have not responded in
kind. The editorial included this irrational interpretation
of political analysis. It goes like this: " The Sinai
bombings offer Sharon an historic opportunity to promote
tighter security coordination in the region and provide a
justification for linking security coordination with economic
and political interests. The response of Egyptian public
opinion to the Luxor attacks of 1994 was sufficiently
vehement to alter the course of fundamentalist violence,
compelling many organizations to modify their thinking. If
this was the case when the perpetrators were Egyptian,
imagine the reaction when such attacks are linked to
non-Egyptian groups?
HOW THE ARAB MEDIA EXPLAIN THE REACTION
OF ARABS AND EGYPTIAN PUBLIC
According to the Arab media, it would be
impossible to misconstrue the reaction of Egyptian public
opinion to the Sinai operations and, in spite of the Egyptian
government's attempts to play down the magnitude and causes
of the bombings in order to prevent panic in the tourist
industry, you can be sure that it is taking the matter very
seriously. In addition, the Arab media , intentionally
misinterprets facts and brings constants complaints against
Israel in public gathering, forum, discussions and
editorials. The latest unconceivable Arab explanation of the
Sinai bombings and Israel security cooperation as published
in numerous Arab newspapers confused the Arab readers and
encouraged them to distrust any peace effort by Israel. One
of the most illustrative editorials contained illogical
analysis of what really happened in Sinai and what really the
Israeli intentions are. It goes like this: " The first
reaction of Israeli ministers was to hurl criticism at Egypt
for being slow to allow in Israeli rescue workers. Such
inanities and fictions are concocted for media consumption in
times of public hysteria. Sharon quickly put a cap on that,
reproaching his ministers for their pettiness and reiterating
his opinion, and that of "experts", that had the victims all
been Egyptian the Egyptian authorities could not have acted
more competently, this is their capacity. Here was an
opportunity for Sharon to extend his embrace to Egypt over
the matter of security coordination in the fight against
terrorism. He told his ministers to swallow their knee-jerk
responses and keep their opinions about Egypt to themselves.
Israel, as we all know, uses terrorism as a blanket term. And
now, acting on Sharon's directives, Israeli ministers are
suddenly singing Egypt's praises in the hope of flattering
Cairo into closer security cooperation, even if that means
meeting the Egyptian demand to amend the Camp David peace
treaty to permit for a stronger Egyptian military presence in
Sinai. Whether or not Egypt responds to these overtures,
Israel has seized upon the Sinai bombings to step up its
drive to establish a network of bilateral security
cooperation links in the region, while simultaneously
sustaining its brutal assault on Gaza."
CLIMATE OF WEARINESS
Some Arab newspapers kept the subject off
the front page on the first day of the operation while others
placed it towards the bottom of that page. Political
commentators in leading Arab newspapers and Arab news agencies
explain: "This suggests a drive to manufacture a climate of
weariness over the Palestinian cause, to engineer fatigue among
Arab public opinion. The only non-wearying items that appear
newsworthy these days are discussions within the Palestinian
leadership, or about the Palestinian leadership and possible
candidates. This, for some reason, seems a perennially exciting
subject. And it allows the Palestinian cause, and Israeli
crime, to be reduced to a constant focus on the role of the
Palestinian leadership and the need to change it. Those who
would advise the Palestinians have tired of everything but
harping on this crisis. They remain doggedly persistent. The
core of the Arab editorial is basically and essentially to
portray the Israelis as constant aggressors. This month, the
Arab media placed a strong emphasis on "Israeli crimes" which
according to editorials published in AL SAFIR, AL AHRAM and in
AL JAZEERA Arab news edition on line " They appear nothing but
a secondary detail, Israeli declarations that they will wreak
vengeance on Palestinian society as a means to pressure the
factions into halting their military operations fall on deaf
ears. The official American definition of terrorism, as defined
in the Patriot Act, holds that terrorism is "to subject
American civilians to acts of violence with the intent of
influencing the policy of their government". Well, Tel Aviv has
made it abundantly clear that it is bombarding Palestinians in
order to influence the policy of their leadership. But the US
vetoed a security council decision condemning Israeli
aggression in Gaza. And what is the Arab stand on this? You
won't find out in the Arab press."
PRAISING THE US AND ISRAEL-ARAB PEACE
EFFORTS IN OFFICIAL MEETINGS, WHILE ATTACKING THE US AND
ISRAEL IN THEIR ARAB NEWSPAPERS
Several
editorials in the Arab press in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt wrote
that there was a time when Arabs spoke about American phases
in the region. There was a Truman phase, a Kissinger phase, a
Carter phase and a Baker phase. Perhaps Arabs should now talk
of a Sharon phase, a phase of Israeli schemes and projects. Its
most salient features are to be found in the military and
political structures and operations required to marginalize the
Palestinian cause, even in the Arab world, making the
disengagement plan the only available alternative, with no
roadmaps or even detours. The Arab media is placing a strong
emphasis on the so-called "Israeli phase". Several commentaries
on the front page of major Arab newspapers characterized the
"Israeli Phase" as a series of attempts to internationalize
the Congress approved boycott of Syria.
ARAB FALSIFICATIONS OF FACTS AND
INTENTIONS OF ISRAEL
The
overwhelming number of articles published in the Arab media
between October 1st and October 18Th, and geared toward
distorting the intention of Israel added more confusion in the
mind of ordinary Arab citizens. Editorials and articles in
Arab Gulf area and Middle East newspapers claimed that Israel
has no intention -whatsoever- to bring peace to the region. One
particular statement caught my attention. It was published in
Al AHRAM newspaper and posted on their website. It goes like
this: " If Syria really wants peace, Israel says, it must
demonstrate this "in deeds, not in words". At the same time,
and without batting an eyelash, Israel refuses to negotiate
with Syria because negotiations could only result in Israel
withdrawing to pre-June 1967 borders. Israel puts about the
false claim that Syria is begging on its knees for Israel to
negotiate, then turns up its nose at the imagined entreaties,
all the better to swagger and strut and play the bully shoving
aside pedestrians on the sidewalk. But Syria has made no new
overtures of any sort: it has merely reiterated its commitment
to previously stated positions on a settlement and on the
negotiating process.
UNDERSCORING THE BALANCE OF POWER
In concocting this image of a
groveling Syria Israel is underscoring the balance of powers in
the region. The US hasn't changed one iota. It is still
breathing down Syria's neck and it will go on breathing down
Syria's neck until Syria does its bidding. But because there
are no justifications, not even according to US-Israeli logic,
for declaring war on Syria the only course open to them is to
do everything in their power to weaken Syria, undermine its
sovereignty and encourage others to do the same. These are just
some of the traits of the new phase Israel is seeking to usher
in to the region. Of course, the going will not be so easy.
Apart from the political map inside Israel, there are
structural problems Israel will face. The only power at
present capable of occupying other nations is embroiled in the
war it engineered in Iraq. It has found itself incapable of
controlling the pace and the logic -- or lack thereof -- of
this war. Israel, in its attempt to inaugurate its own phase in
the region, is certain to encounter obstacles next to which
those that America is facing in Iraq will pale. So wisdom
requires from Israel to get acquainted with its real size in
the region. It will also not be harmful for the Arabs to have
some knowledge about it so they do not get intimidated so
easily."
Prince Charles: Islam’s
New Ambassador
By Cinnamon Stillwell
Prince
Charles of Wales and his new bride, Camilla Parker Bowles, the
Duchess of Cornwall, have been in the United States, hobnobbing
at the White House and imparting royal pearls of wisdom.
According to statements made prior to this visit, Prince
Charles thinks the U.S. is “intolerant” towards Islam. In
Prince Charles’ view, it’s all gone downhill since 9/11 because
of the Bush administration’s “confrontational” approach to
Muslim countries. In fact,
he made these comments during a meeting with
Muslim leaders soon after 9/11. Of course, Great Britain’s
“tolerance” for Islam is hardly the model to follow. After
allowing Islamic extremism to fester openly in Muslim mosques
and neighborhoods (to the point where the nickname
“Londonistan” became commonplace), the
UK was attacked by homegrown terrorists on July
7, 2005. The London bombings were the culmination of years of
turning a blind eye to the cancer within. Initially, there was
much talk about retaining a sense of “British identity” in lieu
of the self-destructive multiculturalism that had engulfed
English society, but that has since faded into obscurity. The
“stoic” British spirit in the face of terrorism and the
country’s historical legacy of wartime endurance were also
popular topics. But instead of defiance, the British reacted
more with resignation. “We can take it,” was the mantra
uttered by many an Englishman in the wake of the bombings, as
if bearing terrorism rather than fighting it was their
unavoidable fate. But even after these brutal attacks, the
British descent into
dhimmitude continued. Radical groups such as
Al Mahajiroun are still calling publicly for
jihad against the West and the creation of an Islamic
Caliphate to rule Britain. Members of the British government
such as Respect Party MP George Galloway openly side with
Islamists against their own country, going so far as to aid in
the propaganda battle with regular appearances on
al-Jazeera and
other Arab media outlets.
Muslim
voters and politicians are having an increasing influence on
the British political landscape. When
Queen Elizabeth knighted the Secretary General
of the Muslim Council of Britain, Iqbal Sacranie (now Sir
Iqbal Sacranie), it was the epitome of this trend. Although
paying lip service to condemning violence
against civilians (a word with multiple connotations among
Muslims), Sacranie has also said of the July 7th terrorists:
“Nothing is clear about what motivated them.” In a country
where knighthood is conferred upon such luminaries as Sir Mick
Jagger and Sir Elton John, the honor bestowed upon Sacranie is
hardly shocking. But something tells me rock stars will have
less of an impact on British politics in the years to come than
will Islamists.
To cap all
this off, British banks are now
fazing out piggy banks because they “offend
Muslims.” It’s apparently not enough that Muslims abstain from
eating pork, as do devout Jews. The mere sight of a pig-like
figurine is an affront to their purity. At this rate, it’s
just a matter of time before the sight of women’s uncovered
heads will also be deemed offensive to Muslims and such
freedoms will go the way of piggy banks. The Islamic Caliphate
is encroaching and England is appears to be going down without
a fight. Prince Charles certainly seems to be on board for the
change over. His
recent visit to Georgetown University’s Center
for Muslim-Christian Understanding was simply the icing on the
cake. It turns out his fascination with Islam, along with
various
New Age pursuits, has a long history.
In 2000,
Prince Charles
made a point of visiting former singer Cat
Stevens (turned Muslim convert Yusuf Islam) at his Islamia
School in Britain, where he congratulated Cat a.k.a. Yusuf for
his efforts to spread “peace and harmony through education.”
The fact that Stevens is
an active sympathizer of terrorist groups and
was deported back to Britain after appearing on a no-fly list
in the U.S. would seem to belie such claims. The Prince has
also
become a patron of the UK’s Center for Islamic
Studies, along with the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who
once donated 33 million dollars to the school. When Prince
Charles became Supreme Governor of the Church of England in
1994 he
opted to call himself not the traditional
“defender of the faith,” but rather “defender of faiths” so as
not to offend non-Christians. A year earlier, he
gave a speech in which he urged the West to
overcome its “unthinkable prejudices” about Islam. Of Islam’s
unthinkable prejudices towards every other religion in the
world, he had little to say. Prince Charles tends instead to
employ the logic of moral relativism
by equating Christian “extremism” with Islamic
extremism, as if the two are comparable.
With all of
this mind, one has to wonder whether Prince Charles’ own
conversion to Islam is eminent or if the royal family has
simply made the change from symbolic rulers to proselytizers
for Islam? Amidst this backdrop,
anti-Semitism in the UK is at an all-time high.
Whether it be the brainwashed leftists in academia
calling for boycotts and divestment from Israel,
or the Muslim Council of Britain (of Sir Ian Sacranie fame)
insisting that
commemorating Holocaust Day is somehow offensive
to Muslims, things aren’t looking too good for Jews in England
these days. This may explain why British Jews are streaming
out of the country and in some cases moving to Israel.
According to
writer Barry Shaw who sells real estate in
Israel, sales have been booming as British Jews choose to
settle in Israel instead of waiting around for things to get
worse. In truth, British society has always had an
anti-Semitic streak along with a propensity for Arabism, and
both are now reaching their logical conclusion.
Meanwhile
over in France, Muslim mobs have been rioting for the past two
weeks. It began when two Muslim men (or “youths” as the media
likes to call them) hiding from police in a power substation
accidentally electrocuted themselves. Riots ensued and quickly
spread, resulting in roaming gangs attacking police, setting
hundreds of vehicles on fire, firing guns into the street,
hurling Molotov cocktails and stones at firehouses, and burning
down stores. The violence ratcheted up a notch when rioters
doused a disabled woman in gasoline and tossed a
Molotov cocktail at the bus she was in, almost burning her to
death. Another man
fared even worse, dying after being in a coma
for a week thanks to the group of thugs that attacked him.
Meanwhile, France’s “leaders” dither on ineffectually.
France’s
high unemployment rate and segregated ghettos have long been
fertile ground for crime and extremism, but what we’re
witnessing now is nothing less than societal collapse. Much
like England, multiculturalism has created an unassimilated
population in which radicalism has been allowed to flourish.
Whether or not the latest generation of Muslims actually wishes
to integrate into French society is another matter. This last
question is also integral to the Muslim riots that have been
occurring in Denmark.
They were
spurred on by anger
at the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten for running a
series of cartoons based on the prophet Mohammed. It appears
the newspaper miscalculated in thinking that the Muslim
community would welcome such freedom of speech. As Imam Raed
Hlayehel put it in a statement, “This type of
democracy is worthless for Muslims.”
With both
Denmark and France burning,
a civil war
seems to be brewing in Europe and it’s unlikely to end anytime
soon. All of this so far
is a far cry from the relatively integrated and prosperous
Muslim population in the United States. A drive through the
largely Arab-American enclave of Dearborn, Michigan
demonstrates not ghettoes or alienation, but well-maintained
streets and a thriving business community.
Statistics on Arab-Americans bear out similar
results. According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, people of
Arab descent in the U.S. are actually “better educated and
wealthier than average Americans.” This population includes
Christians along with Muslims, but the economic opportunities
and institutions that benefit all Americans is the real key to
Arab-American success. Despite Prince Charles’ claims of
American intolerance, incidents of
anti-Islamic hate crimes in the U.S. numbered
only 154 in 2004.
This is far
below that of racially motivated hate crimes, not to mention
those involving other religions. Anti-Jewish hate crimes for
instance, were the highest of the bunch, numbering 954. Yet
for some mysterious reason, Prince Charles hasn’t commented on
the “intolerance” of anti-Semitism in America. In addition,
the Bush administration has gone out of its way to emphasize
that the war on terrorism is not a war against Islam itself.
Some would say they’ve gone overboard in such pursuits, but the
administration certainly can’t be faulted for lack of effort.
And if
helping to rid Muslims of their despotic leaders is considered
too “confrontational,” then so be it. Perhaps Prince Charles
needs reminding that his own Prime Minister Tony Blair has been
along for the ride since day one. It’s obvious that the
problems of Great Britain and Europe with their Muslim
population are far greater than that of the United States.
While the U.S. has its own extremist elements to contend with,
the long-term prospects are fairly hopeful. Commitment to
religious freedom is still high among Americans and this may
prove to be the ultimate savior. In contrast, Great Britain
and Europe are foregoing their Christian heritage in favor of
an Islamic future. Whether or not everyone goes willingly,
sheer population numbers will eventually engulf them.
Islamists are nothing if not patient, assigning centuries to
these ongoing civilizational battles. And when it comes to
Europe, they are definitely winning. Just ask Prince Charles.
PA: "Synagogues are not holy places... they are
symbols of the occupation. We don't need them, and we will
dispose of them."
AL Jazeera: Palestinians have set fire to three abandoned
synagogues amid the departure of the last Israeli soldiers from
the Gaza Strip, ending 38 years of military rule.
Photo:
Palestinians demolishing
Gaza's synagogues.
Al Jazeera
reported that Jewish settlers had taken the Torah scrolls from
the synagogues as well as prayer books and other holy items,
symbolising the end of the use of the buildings as houses of
worship. Giant bulldozer could be seen reducing to rubble one
of the former places of worship in the evacuated settlement of
Netzarim, just to the south of Gaza City. The synagogue had
earlier been torched by scores of youths who had entered
Netzarim shortly after the last soldiers left. Last week, the
Israeli government voted 14-2 to keep the former houses of
worship intact, apparently in deference to Jewish rabbis who
had ruled that the demolition of the buildings would constitute
a violation of halacha, or Jewish religious law. The
Palestinian Authority (PA) called the Israeli decision
"provocation" and "public relations entrapment". The rabbis had
warned the government that the destruction of the synagogues by
Jews would send the wrong signal to the world and might
precipitate attacks on Jewish houses of worship. PA President
Mahmoud Abbas on Monday dismissed the Israeli government
decision as a public relations maneuver. "They left empty
buildings that used to be temples, but they removed all the
religious symbols, and they are no longer religious places.
Earlier, PA National Security official Jibril Rajoub said the
PA would demolish the empty buildings. "These are not holy
places. The Israeli army took away all holy objects, and all we
have now is empty buildings, most of which are ramshackle,"
Rajoub said in an interview with Aljazeera on Sunday.
"Synagogues are not holy places... they are symbols of the
occupation. We don't need them, and we will dispose of them."
The
PA said the synagogues were "symbols of occupation"
Israeli
officials denied the Palestinian accusations of provocation,
saying the army left the synagogues intact because it "was too
much to see Jews destroying Jewish synagogues". Israel's
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom denounced the torching of the
synagogues. "This is a barbaric act by people who have no
respect for holy sites. The Palestinians have taken no real
effort to protect the synagogues," he told public radio.
Regev told
Aljazeera.net that Israel was expecting the PA to do its utmost
to respect and preserve the buildings. When asked whether
Israel would accept handing the buildings over to a third party
or converting them into medical facilities for children, as was
proposed by some foreign officials, Regev said Israel would
welcome any solution that would respectfully deal with these
structures. Several Palestinian leaders had voiced concern over
Israel's motives in abandoning the synagogues. "We are damned
if we do and damned if we don't," PA negotiator Saeb Erikat
said on Sunday during a radio interview with Israeli state-run
radio. He said Israel was adding "another sensitive problem" to
those left unresolved by the withdrawing Israeli army,
including the border crossings and the Gaza airport and
harbours. Israel and the PA are yet to reach agreement on these
issues, which for Gazans could make the difference between a
successful transition to political and economic freedom or
remaining under Israeli control. Rabbi Menachem Fruman of the
settlement of Tku' near Bethlehem had proposed converting the
synagogues into mosques, arguing that Muslims and Jews were
worshiping the same God. However, some Palestinian leaders
privately voiced fears that turning the synagogues into mosques
could give Jews a pretext to pray at Muslim holy places, such
as the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. "If we convert them into
mosques, they would then demand the right to pray at the Aqsa
Mosque on the grounds that since Muslims were allowed to pray
in Jewish synagogues in Gaza, Jews also have the right to pray
in the mosques," said one Hamas member from the Hebron region.
"We respect Judaism and other religions. But this is a media
bluff. Hence the buildings should be demolished
respectfully," Palestinian Authority Mufti, Ikrema Sabri, told
Voice of Palestine radio. The Hamas member, who identified
himself as Abu Ahmed, said the demolition of synagogues by the
Palestinians would also create problems. "I think Israel wants
the Palestinians to demolish these structures in order to have
a pretext for some nefarious designs against Islamic holy
places, especially in Jerusalem." He said the PA should destroy
the buildings immediately before they became an international
issue. A Hamas official in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud al-Zahar,
told Aljazeera.net in a telephone interview on Sunday that the
synagogues would be demolished as soon as the Israeli army left
Gaza.
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