According to a CNN report, the al Qaeda terrorist organization promises to carry out a major terrorist attack against Americans by Saturday. The deadline corresponds to the end of the Muslim festival ‘Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. “You have not learned your lesson,” declared al-Qaeda to the American people in a statement posted on its internet site, translated from the Arabic by CNN. “Oh American people, you are the victim of your leaders, but you are also a partner in the war on us. The gift for the holiday [‘Eid al-Fitr] is on its way.” The internet message is in line with a fax, purported to be from al-Qaeda as well, received by the Gulf satellite station al-Jazeera. While US officials said that they are taking the threats seriously, the US State Department has issued a warning to US citizens in Turkey about an imminent terrorist strike, either against American interests or at an airport there.
The US State Department has also backtracked, without explanation, from its initial statement Wednesday protesting Israel's expulsion of Dr. Haled Diab, an American citizen. Israel claimed that Diab has links to terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda. Yesterday, the State Department withdrew its formal protest.
Also yesterday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated that al-Qaeda operatives have moved into areas in Gaza controlled by the PLO. “We know that they [al-Qaeda] are also in Lebanon and are cooperating closely with the Hizbullah,” said Sharon. While Israel is a target, Sharon noted, it is not the only one and the Israeli government is cooperating with other states, such as Russia, to combat global Islamic terrorism. A website affiliated with al-Qaeda has confirmed the Prime Minister’s statements, as well. According to a Washington Post report this morning, an internet site connected to al-Qaeda is threatening to carry out suicide attacks against Israel. The newspaper notes the recent addition of a group calling itself al-Qaeda Palestine to the pantheon of terrorist organizations targeting Israel and the United States.
The US State Department has also backtracked, without explanation, from its initial statement Wednesday protesting Israel's expulsion of Dr. Haled Diab, an American citizen. Israel claimed that Diab has links to terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda. Yesterday, the State Department withdrew its formal protest.
Also yesterday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated that al-Qaeda operatives have moved into areas in Gaza controlled by the PLO. “We know that they [al-Qaeda] are also in Lebanon and are cooperating closely with the Hizbullah,” said Sharon. While Israel is a target, Sharon noted, it is not the only one and the Israeli government is cooperating with other states, such as Russia, to combat global Islamic terrorism. A website affiliated with al-Qaeda has confirmed the Prime Minister’s statements, as well. According to a Washington Post report this morning, an internet site connected to al-Qaeda is threatening to carry out suicide attacks against Israel. The newspaper notes the recent addition of a group calling itself al-Qaeda Palestine to the pantheon of terrorist organizations targeting Israel and the United States.