An article in London?s a-Sharq al-Awsat praises the recent terrorist suicide bombing in Jerusalem carried out by an Arab woman. ?It is God?s will,? the article opens, ?that Wafa Idris joins the ranks of Muslim women martyrs. Muslim women around the world are proud of her heroic act and strong faith in our just cause.? Not just proud, the article warns that ?Wafa has opened the door of martyrdom through which many Arab women may follow.? Apparently oblivious to the contradiction, the same article that praises the powerful suicide bombing on a central Jerusalem street includes the statement, ?Wafa is one of thousands of helpless Palestinians who confront Israel?s military might with stones and light weapons.?
While praising the suicide bomber and the deed itself, the a-Sharq al-Awsat column succinctly characterized Arab support for terrorism in a central statement: ?The number of illegal settlers killed as a result of her suicidal operation does not matter. What matters most is that the cowardly occupation forces should never feel safe or secure.? The attack took place, it will be recalled, in western Jerusalem, in Israeli hands since before the Six Day War of 1967, and targeted pedestrian shoppers on a busy street. The newspaper article thus supports such attacks precisely because they constitute terrorism against Jews, not for their military value. Furthermore, the author apparently considers any Jews anywhere in the Land of Israel to be ?illegal settlers? and ?occupation forces,? subject to death at the hands of Arab ?martyrs.?
?Three cheers for Wafa and three cheers for her bravery and courage,? the author writes, ?and three cheers for her patient and courageous parents.? The suicide bomber, according to the article, ?chose to walk into paradise with her head held high?. Despite her profession as a nurse, Wafa decided to give her country what it deserves ? her blood. Despite her university degree which would have guaranteed her a job and a decent living, she chose martyrdom.?
According to the author, ?History records the participation in battles of Muslim women along with men from the early days of Islam?. [C]ountless Muslim women martyrs have endured torture and pain in order to see the flag of ?No god but God? and ?Muhammad is the Messenger of God? flying forever.? The a-Sharq al-Awsat piece continues, ?In this context, it is only right to mention early Arab women martyrs in our own times. We remember Sanaa Mahdly from Lebanon. She elected to blow herself up in the middle of a crowd of occupiers and killed nearly 50 Israeli soldiers. She was only 20 years old when she chose to die for the cause she believed in.?
One of the motivating factors the article attributes to the female terrorist is pain at the ?silent Arab leaders, reluctant to confront Israel?. Wafa, however, reached the conclusion that the Arabs aren?t the Arabs she belongs to, but only scattered factions and parties here and there. Wafa?s martyrdom came in response to a statement by the Qatari minister of foreign affairs who said that the Arabs are helpless to confront Israel?s war machine.? She is contrasted to the Arab leaders in having made ?a brave decision? to fight the Zionists who occupy her land and displace her people.?
While praising the suicide bomber and the deed itself, the a-Sharq al-Awsat column succinctly characterized Arab support for terrorism in a central statement: ?The number of illegal settlers killed as a result of her suicidal operation does not matter. What matters most is that the cowardly occupation forces should never feel safe or secure.? The attack took place, it will be recalled, in western Jerusalem, in Israeli hands since before the Six Day War of 1967, and targeted pedestrian shoppers on a busy street. The newspaper article thus supports such attacks precisely because they constitute terrorism against Jews, not for their military value. Furthermore, the author apparently considers any Jews anywhere in the Land of Israel to be ?illegal settlers? and ?occupation forces,? subject to death at the hands of Arab ?martyrs.?
?Three cheers for Wafa and three cheers for her bravery and courage,? the author writes, ?and three cheers for her patient and courageous parents.? The suicide bomber, according to the article, ?chose to walk into paradise with her head held high?. Despite her profession as a nurse, Wafa decided to give her country what it deserves ? her blood. Despite her university degree which would have guaranteed her a job and a decent living, she chose martyrdom.?
According to the author, ?History records the participation in battles of Muslim women along with men from the early days of Islam?. [C]ountless Muslim women martyrs have endured torture and pain in order to see the flag of ?No god but God? and ?Muhammad is the Messenger of God? flying forever.? The a-Sharq al-Awsat piece continues, ?In this context, it is only right to mention early Arab women martyrs in our own times. We remember Sanaa Mahdly from Lebanon. She elected to blow herself up in the middle of a crowd of occupiers and killed nearly 50 Israeli soldiers. She was only 20 years old when she chose to die for the cause she believed in.?
One of the motivating factors the article attributes to the female terrorist is pain at the ?silent Arab leaders, reluctant to confront Israel?. Wafa, however, reached the conclusion that the Arabs aren?t the Arabs she belongs to, but only scattered factions and parties here and there. Wafa?s martyrdom came in response to a statement by the Qatari minister of foreign affairs who said that the Arabs are helpless to confront Israel?s war machine.? She is contrasted to the Arab leaders in having made ?a brave decision? to fight the Zionists who occupy her land and displace her people.?