Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, the leading newspaper of the Palestinian Authority, along with the Jerusalem Times, also a PA publication, recently published an interview with Sheikh Ikirma Sabri, the PA-appointed Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, and ?one of the most devoted supporters of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat?? In the interview, which was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the al-Janadiriyyeh Conference, Sabri warns the Israeli government ?not to interfere in Muslim affairs,? such as the running of the Temple Mount in the Israeli capital city.
One of the potential actions Israel was ?repeatedly warned? about was, as the question was phrased in the al-Hayat interview, ?the consequence of allowing Jews to enter Al-Aqsa.? In his reply, Sabri says that such an action would ?violate the sanctity of Al-Aqsa.? The reason that Sabri feels that he can warn the Israeli government against exercising its authority in Jerusalem is because ?we do not acknowledge Israeli sovereignty there.? Considering the enforcement of any Israeli laws in Jerusalem as ?interfering in the affairs of Al-Aqsa,? Sabri threatens, ?The people of Jerusalem will defend their mosque and stand up to any attack on it. They have done it before and will do it again, and the Israeli Government must consider these words a direct warning.?
The PA appointed Mufti does not believe, however, that Israeli aspirations end on the Temple Mount, or even in Jerusalem. Sabri told the al-Hayat al-Jadeeda interviewer, ?Should Israel succeed in ending the Intifada, it would concentrate on its age-old scheme to control Arab states one by one, with Iraq, Lebanon and Syria being first on the list. Israeli greed does not end with the land between the Nile and the Euphrates; Israel wants an empire.? Bearing that in mind, the Mufti is convinced, ?Israel definitely does not want peace. Several years of empty talk about peace was Israel's way of tightening the grip of occupation, partly by confiscating more land and establishing more settlements.? In fact, the Mufti declares, ?life with Israel is impossible after seeing the brutality and savagery of Sharon.?
The interviewer asks a logical question, in light of the Mufti?s convictions: ?Do you believe the solution could come from a comprehensive declaration of jihad against Israel?? The Mufti?s answer was circumspect, because ?Israel is looking for the chance to stop me from living in Palestine. I, on the other hand, am intent on remaining in Palestine near Al-Aqsa.? Nonetheless, in point of fact, the Mufti states, ?We the Palestinians have been engaged in jihad since 1967. Arab nations lay blame while remaining in slumber themselves. Why don't Arab and Muslim scholars declare jihad against Israel with word and deed?? The current offensive against Israel, ?[t]he 18-month Intifada? in the language of the Mufti, ?is a legitimate form of jihad, and the rest of the Muslims must assume their responsibility to end the Israeli occupation. We have had enough condemnation and reprimand.? Furthermore, the spirit of jihad is strong in the Arab street in the Palestinian Authority, according to the Mufti. ?The Palestinian people are strong-willed and patient,? Sabri told al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, ?they see no escape but through continuing the Intifada, with or without Arab support.?
Although not directly asked by the interviewer, Sabri addressed the issue of the use of terrorism of his own initiative. ?The people with the legitimate cause should not be accused of terrorism,? the Mufti states, ?the Palestinian people have a just cause and are fighting for freedom, and besides, they are doing nothing in comparison to what Israel is doing. It is painful to see that people legitimately resisting occupation are accused of terrorism while Sharon's savagery is dubbed self-defense.? Ignoring the ongoing shootings and suicide bombings carried out by Arab militiamen, Sabri concludes with the question, ?How could a boy hurling a stone be called a terrorist while an army using tanks and jetfighters not be one??
As for the future, the PA Mufti Sabri believes, ?The Intifada will grow stronger and its result will be justice.? The Mufti also stated, prior to the recently much-discussed ?Saudi Initiative,? that he expects ?that Egypt and Saudi Arabia will eventually exert a real effort for the benefit of the Palestinian struggle.?
One of the potential actions Israel was ?repeatedly warned? about was, as the question was phrased in the al-Hayat interview, ?the consequence of allowing Jews to enter Al-Aqsa.? In his reply, Sabri says that such an action would ?violate the sanctity of Al-Aqsa.? The reason that Sabri feels that he can warn the Israeli government against exercising its authority in Jerusalem is because ?we do not acknowledge Israeli sovereignty there.? Considering the enforcement of any Israeli laws in Jerusalem as ?interfering in the affairs of Al-Aqsa,? Sabri threatens, ?The people of Jerusalem will defend their mosque and stand up to any attack on it. They have done it before and will do it again, and the Israeli Government must consider these words a direct warning.?
The PA appointed Mufti does not believe, however, that Israeli aspirations end on the Temple Mount, or even in Jerusalem. Sabri told the al-Hayat al-Jadeeda interviewer, ?Should Israel succeed in ending the Intifada, it would concentrate on its age-old scheme to control Arab states one by one, with Iraq, Lebanon and Syria being first on the list. Israeli greed does not end with the land between the Nile and the Euphrates; Israel wants an empire.? Bearing that in mind, the Mufti is convinced, ?Israel definitely does not want peace. Several years of empty talk about peace was Israel's way of tightening the grip of occupation, partly by confiscating more land and establishing more settlements.? In fact, the Mufti declares, ?life with Israel is impossible after seeing the brutality and savagery of Sharon.?
The interviewer asks a logical question, in light of the Mufti?s convictions: ?Do you believe the solution could come from a comprehensive declaration of jihad against Israel?? The Mufti?s answer was circumspect, because ?Israel is looking for the chance to stop me from living in Palestine. I, on the other hand, am intent on remaining in Palestine near Al-Aqsa.? Nonetheless, in point of fact, the Mufti states, ?We the Palestinians have been engaged in jihad since 1967. Arab nations lay blame while remaining in slumber themselves. Why don't Arab and Muslim scholars declare jihad against Israel with word and deed?? The current offensive against Israel, ?[t]he 18-month Intifada? in the language of the Mufti, ?is a legitimate form of jihad, and the rest of the Muslims must assume their responsibility to end the Israeli occupation. We have had enough condemnation and reprimand.? Furthermore, the spirit of jihad is strong in the Arab street in the Palestinian Authority, according to the Mufti. ?The Palestinian people are strong-willed and patient,? Sabri told al-Hayat al-Jadeeda, ?they see no escape but through continuing the Intifada, with or without Arab support.?
Although not directly asked by the interviewer, Sabri addressed the issue of the use of terrorism of his own initiative. ?The people with the legitimate cause should not be accused of terrorism,? the Mufti states, ?the Palestinian people have a just cause and are fighting for freedom, and besides, they are doing nothing in comparison to what Israel is doing. It is painful to see that people legitimately resisting occupation are accused of terrorism while Sharon's savagery is dubbed self-defense.? Ignoring the ongoing shootings and suicide bombings carried out by Arab militiamen, Sabri concludes with the question, ?How could a boy hurling a stone be called a terrorist while an army using tanks and jetfighters not be one??
As for the future, the PA Mufti Sabri believes, ?The Intifada will grow stronger and its result will be justice.? The Mufti also stated, prior to the recently much-discussed ?Saudi Initiative,? that he expects ?that Egypt and Saudi Arabia will eventually exert a real effort for the benefit of the Palestinian struggle.?