Palestinian Media Watch Special report #37 by Itamar Marcus, Director. July 2, 2001.
Palestinian Media Watch monitors the Palestinian media and issues free reports. It is an
independent, Jerusalem-based non-profit organization.
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Introduction
Throughout history religious wars have been fought in the name of different
Gods. The premise and basis for discussion of the Oslo Accords was that the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict was not an irreconcilable religious war, but one
over borders. However, the Palestinian religious leaders, all appointees of the
PA political leadership, are publicly preaching that the Israel-Palestinian
conflict is part of Islam’s eternal religious war against the Jews.1 Jews are
portrayed as the eternal enemies of Allah, and the killing of Jews as Allah’s
will. On the national level, Allah prohibits acceptance of Israel’s existence
and will destroy it.
The Palestinians have redefined the conflict from one over borders, in which
compromise may be a solution, into a religious war for Allah’s in which
compromise is heretical. The implications for future peace are ominous.
This report is not brought as a critique of Islam’s religious traditions nor
does it claim to represent authentic Islam. Rather it demonstrates the way
Palestinian Authority religious leaders are selecting, interpreting and teaching
Islam. Although Islam has positive references and traditions regarding Jews, the
PA religious leaders have chosen to cite only negative references in their
religious teaching, using the traditional sources to justify and even to demand
uncompromising hatred of Jews and Israel.
The religious ideology of the Palestinian Authority religious leaders as
expressed in the Friday sermons and religious lessons can be summarized by eight
essential principles, four regarding the Jews, and four regarding Israel:
Jews
- Jews are the enemy of Allah.
- Islam is fighting a continuous religious war against the Jews.
- The killing of Jews is a religious obligation.
- Palestinians are the vanguard in this war against the Jews, and all
Islamic nations are obligated to assist in this war.
Israel
- All of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea is a religious Waqf – an Islamic religious trust.
- Any Muslim who relinquishes any part to Israel is damned to Hell.
- All agreements with Israel are inherently temporary in nature and are
signed only because of Israel’s temporary balance of power advantage. - Allah will replace Muslims who shirk their obligation to battle Israel.
- The ultimate destruction of Israel is a certainty.
The Palestinians repeatedly use Islamic sources to defend this religious
hatred, even demanding the killing of Jews as a current obligation and the will
of Allah. At least four times in recent months Palestinian religious leaders
have taught publicly that the following Hadith (Islamic traditions attributed to
Mohammed) is an authoritative directive of Islam today, expressing Allah’s will
that obedient Muslims kill Jews. The Hadith itself states:
“The Day of Resurrection will not arrive until the Muslims make war against
the Jews and kill them, and until a Jew hiding behind a rock and tree, and the
rock and tree will say: ‘Oh Muslim, Oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind
me, come and kill him!'”2
Recently a preacher attacked the Arab-Muslim world leaders because they are
avoiding attacking Israel with missiles and tanks, and threatened them that
Allah is liable to “replace them with other men… that fight for Allah… to
liberate the lands from the defilement of the Jews”.3
It is to be stressed that these broadcasts by officially appointed religious
leaders, presenting the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as an eternal religious
conflict, have been preached long before the current violence began. This
preaching it is not a reaction to the present violence, and possibly the
opposite is true. The P.A.’s religious world-view, that sees agreements with
Israel as inherently temporary and war against the Jews as an expression of
Allah’s will, has in all likelihood fueled the hatred that has lead to
Palestinian terror and violence.
This report presents representative selections from sermons broadcast during
recent years:
Part 1.
The Eternal Islamic War against the Jews Led by the Palestinians;
the Jews are enemies of Allah
“We the Palestinian nation, our fate from Allah is to be the vanguard in the
war against the Jews until the resurrection of the dead, as the prophet Muhammad
said: ‘The resurrection of the dead will not arrive until you will fight the
Jews and kill them… ‘ We the Palestinians are the vanguard in this undertaking
and in this campaign, whether or not we want this…”4
“Blessed is he who fights Jihad in the name of Allah, blessed is he who raids in the name of Allah, blessed is he who dons a vest of explosives on
himself or on his children and goes in to the depth of the Jews and says: Allahu
Akbar, Blessed be Allah. Like the collapse of the building upon the heads of the
Jews in their sinful dance-hall, I ask of Allah that we see the Knesset
collapsing on the heads of the Jews.”5
“The battle with the Jews will surely come… the decisive Muslim victory is
coming without a doubt, and the prophet spoke about in more than one Hadith and
the Day of resurrection will not come without the victory of the believers over the descendents of the monkeys and pigs and with their
annihilation.”6
“The Jews are the Jews. There never was among them a supporter of peace. They
are all liars… the true criminals, the Jewish terrorists, that slaughtered our
children, that turned our wives into widows and our children into orphans, and
desecrated our holy places. They are terrorists. Therefore it is necessary to
slaughter them and murder them, according to the words of Allah… it is
forbidden to have mercy in your hearts for the Jews in any place and in any
land. Make war on them anyplace that you find yourself. Any place that you
encounter them – kill them. Kill the Jews and those among the Americans that are
like them… The Jews only understand might. Have no mercy on the Jews, murder
them everywhere…”7
“…Allah decreed upon us in this lifetime to humiliate the Jews sooner or
later…”8
“My dear brothers, so continues the struggle between the Muslims and the Jews
from the past, both near and far, in the present and in the future. And in this
matter the word of Allah will be fulfilled: (Koran, Sura 5,84) ‘There will not
be found more hostile to the believers than the Jews and the
idolaters.”9
A repeated goal of PA religious teaching is to defame Jews and Jewish
tradition:
“…The Jews are used to deceit…they fake the facts and changed the laws of
Allah… the Torah was brought down with contained guidance towards the path of
righteousness and light, just as every book which Allah brought down… switched the law of Allah and by this rebelled on His ruling and religion
and way, and therefore they merit to be heretics and to be banished from the
Allah’s mercy… They faked the words of Allah and changed their religion and
laws and they are the wicked. And whomever does not rule according to what Allah
brought down, whomever rebelled against this… is in a rebellion against Allah,
and is a descendant of Abelis , the descendant of the Satans, and worthy
of receiving the punishment of the sinners …” 10
“…Their Bible today, has no light and no teachings. Their
Bible today, is just a bunch of notes that were written down by people who lie
about God, his prophets and his Bible…those who do these kinds of things are
the descendants of Abelis, meaning the descendants of the satans…they
fabricated a Jewish history book full of promises to Abraham, Issac and Jacob
that He will give them the land of Palestine…the entire Bible comes to claim
ownership on the land for the Jews.”11
Part 2.
All of the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea is
Holy Islamic Wakf (Muslim religious trust).
“The Islamic Land of Palestine is one and cannot be divided. There is no
difference between Haifa and Nablus, between Lod and Ramallah, between Jerusalem
and Nazareth. Dividing Palestine into cantons and giving recognition to the
occupation is prohibited by Sharia (Islamic religious law), since Palestinian is
Wakf for all Muslims in the East and in the West. No one has the
right to give it up or to forsake it. The liberation of Palestinian is mandatory
obligation for all Muslims and not only for our Palestinian nation.”12
Almost the identical speech was made one year later, demonstrating the
consistent ideology: “Allah made it clear to us through the laws of the Sharia
(Islamic religious law) and we say: The Islamic Land of Palestine is one and
cannot be divided. There is no difference between Haifa and Nablus, Lod and
Ramallah, Jerusalem and Nazareth or Gaza and Ashkelon. Palestinian is Wakf land
that belongs to Muslims throughout the world and no one has the right to give it
up or to forsake it. Whoever does this is a traitor to the trust and is nothing
but a loathsome criminal whose end shall be in hell.”13
Sheikh Ikrima Sabri The Palestinian Authority appointed Mufti of Jerusalem
and Palestine: “We are discussing the current problems and when we speak about
Jerusalem it doesn’t mean that we have forgotten about Hebron or about Jaffa or
about Acre….we are speaking about the curent problems that have priority at a
certain time. It doesn’t mean that we have given up… We have announced a
number of times that from a religious point of view Palestine from the sea to
the river is Islamic.”14
“Even if agreements were signed Gaza and the West Bank, we will
not forget Haifa, Acre, Jaffa, the Galilee Triangle, and the Negev. It is only a
question of time…”15
“It is forbidden for anyone, Arab, Palestinian or Muslim to forgo one grain
of soil of the land of Palestine, Jerusalem and Al Aksa …whoever forgoes even
one grain of soil his sin is upon him, and all the sins of the Palestinians, the
Arabs and the Muslims, forever and ever…”16
“…The Jews gathered from all ends of the earth in our beloved Palestine,
from Rosh HaNikra in the north to Eilat in the south…from sea to river, it was
all a land of Muslims… Palestine’s borders, the promised Palestine, is from
the sea to the river…”17
“How is it Israel that became a state next to the cradle of Jesus and in the
shadow of the Al Aksa Mosque. May Allah speedily return us…”18
Part 3.
The Oslo Agreements are Inherently Temporary – Future Generations
will Complete the War
“All of the agreements entered into are temporary, until the
decree comes from Allah and until the destiny from Allah is realized.”19
“…Before long, Palestine will return to the bosom of Islam, we say this
with certainty, in accordance with the religious texts… the glorious Islamic
nation, to whom is promised victory by Allah…”20
“Who is responsible for the loss of Palestine… and deceitfully
labeling it Israel?… The Prophet soothes us with many Hadiths that
Palestine shall return to its former days…. “We must prepare a
foothold, for the coming army of Allah, by divine predetermination. May it be
Allah’s will, this oppressing state shall pass, Israel shall pass. This
oppressing state, America, shall pass, the oppressing state Britain, shall pass,
that brought this catastrophe of this nation…”21
“How will Palestine return?… Allah will support whom He loves. ‘Allah loves
whoever battles for him’ (Koran, Sura 61,4). Therefore, there is no escape from
a Jihad for the sake of Allah. As long as this nation shall
neglect the commandment of the Jihad, Allah will humiliate her. When will
Palestine return? When we impose the law of Allah… Palestine will return when
we return to Allah… Palestine will return if we will know who is the enemy and
who is the friend, and the games of world Jewry…
A Jewish Woman said: ‘I cry for this. In our holy books that
when a state for the Jews is established in Palestine, it will not last more
than 67 years’. In other words – the year 2022. And I beg Allah to bring an end
to the country of the oppressor in America, and the country of the oppressor
Israel in Palestine, by that date…Therefore, it is our hope that this
oppressive country will be terminated, as in the words of Allah…”22
“My brothers the believers, at this opportunity, while we are still speaking
of the Jews, of the Jews’ craftiness, of the Jews’ meanness, and of their
assiduousness to deflect you from your path, and to distance you from your
rights… That Palestine, Jerusalem and Al Aksa, they are a holy debt of the
Muslims, of the Arabs, and especially of ours, we the people of Palestine. And
they belong to all the generations, and not just of a particular generation. The
generation that is not able to regain these rights, is obligated to give the
generations that follow it an opportunity, by cleaving to the right, by cleaving
to the principle, and by not giving up on this right, until the future
generations come, in order to realize what we failed to do today, against the
enemies of Allah”23
Note: In an interview on Palestinian Television an Israeli Arab Knesset
Member, Abd-Al Malek Dahamshe, defined the agreements with Israel as “Hudna” – a
temporary cease fire. This definition was given in response to a viewer who
called in to the studio and commented that, “Our problem with Israel is not a
border problem, but an existential one”. M.K. Dahamshe responded: “We exaggerate
when we say ‘peace’… what we are speaking about is ‘Hudna'”.24
This religious world view accepting “Hudna”, temporary agreements until some
future liquidation of Israel, has been expressed by the leader of the Hamas
terrorist organization as well. Sheikh Ahmad Yassin: “We are speaking of
‘Hudna’, for a while, but not of the end of the conflict, in
exchange for this should include a complete withdrawal from the West
Bank and Gaza…”25
It is important to note that the Islamic Education in even the newest
Palestinian school books published in September 2000, teach this prohibition of
leaving Islamic land in Israel’s hands. While repeatedly and exclusively
defining all of Israel as “Palestine” the following is taught:
“Patriotism in Islam: In Islam, it is not improper for a Muslim to love his
homeland. To the contrary, Islam encourages this, and established its defense as
an obligatory commandment for every Muslim if even a centimeter of his land is
stolen. I, a Palestinian Muslim, love my country Palestine…”26 “People have
many obligations toward the homeland, including: 1. Defending it in every
possible way, as Islam determined defense of the homeland to be a religious
obligation, and considers anyone who is killed in defending it as a martyr of
the highest order…”27
In addition, like the preachers, the school book editors have chosen to
incorporate negative traditions about Jews. The following are three examples of
sections about Jews chosen for inclusion in the PA Islamic Education
schoolbooks. The first describes the Jews being expelled by Allah from their
homes because they violated a treaty with Muhammad, even though they had felt
secure. The second compares the Jews carrying the Torah to a donkey carrying
books. The third warns the Jews that because of their deeds, the death they fear
will overtake them.
1. “Surat al-Hashar
“He is the one who has caused those of the
People of the Book who disbelieved to leave their homes unto the first
expulsion … Allah reached them from a place where they did not expect, and
cast terror in their hearts so that they destroyed their homes with their own
hands and the hands of the believers. Therefore take a lesson, O you who have
eyes!…” “General information about the Sura…: The Sura is focussing on the
raid against Bani Nadir, the Jews who violated the treaty with Allah’s
Messenger, and he exiled them from Medina. …”28
2. “Surat al-Jum’a
“…Those who were charged with the Torah, but
did not observe it, are like a donkey carrying books…”29
3. “Surat al-Jum’a (2)
“…Oh you who are Jews, if you think that you are
favored of Allah, to the exclusion of (other) men. Then long for death if you
are truthful. But they will never long for it because of the (deeds) their hands
have sent before… as for the death from which you flee, that will surely
overtake you …” 30
Part 4.
The Destruction of Israel is a Global Islamic Responsibility
“…The Muslims and Arabs must stand behind the Palestinian nation, which is
the vanguard in the war against Allah’s enemies. By the living Allah, the Jews
are Islam’s enemies in this life time…”31
“There are Hadiths (Islamic traditions attributed to the prophet Mohammed)
regarding our struggle against the Jews. And it is given: “The Day of
Resurrection will not arrive until the Muslims make war against the Jews and
kill them, and until a Jew hiding behind a rock and tree, and the rock and tree
will say: ‘Oh Muslim, Oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and
kill him!’ This Hadith clarifies to us the characteristics of the campaign
between us and the Jews. The tree and the rock do not say ‘Oh, Palestinian’, ‘Oh
Arab’, or ‘Oh resident of the Middle East’. Rather they say: ‘Oh, Moslem,
Servant of Allah'”32
“The Arab rulers and the Moslems, and our people everywhere. If we don’t
support Allah, He will replace us with other men… The courageous over the
infidels, make war for Allah and are not afraid… This is the depiction of the
Army of Allah that will come at Allah’s decree, from here or from there, to
liberate these lands from the defilement of the Jews, for Allah was angry with
them in his book and called them once ‘monkeys’, once ‘swine’, and once
‘donkeys’.”33
“Oh, our Arab brethren… Oh, our Moslem brethren… Don’t leave the
Palestinians alone in war against the Jews…even if it has been decreed upon us
to be the vanguard… Jerusalem, Palestine and Al Aksa, the land that Allah
blessed and its surrounding areas will remain at the center of the struggle
between Truth and Falsehood, between the Jews and the non-Jews on this sacred
land, regardless of how many agreements are signed, regardless of how many
treaties and covenants are ratified. For the Truth is in the Koran, as verified
by the words of the prophet Mohammed, that the decisive battle will be in
Jerusalem and its environs: ‘The resurrection of the dead will not occur until
you make war on the Jews…'”34
“All the members of this nation must take part in this struggle against the
enemies of Allah, so that through us the saying of Allah will be fulfilled: ‘You
will not find people more hostile than are the Jews'”.35
“The Hadith’s (Islamic traditions attributed to the prophet Mohammed) explain
the nature of the battle between us and the Jews. Allah will impose you on the
Jew. ‘The Day of Resurrection will not arrive until you make war on the Jews,
until a Jew will hide behind a rock or tree, and the rock or tree will say: Oh
Moslem, servant of Allah, here is a Jew behind me, kill him!”36
“Moslem rulers! We turn to you and declare that you are the crowns of our
heads, would you rule according to the law of Allah. We say: Where are your
missiles? Where are your tanks? Where is your decisiveness. This is a shout
filled with pain… why don’t they come with their tanks and missiles.”37
“Arab and Moslem rulers! The weaponry that will not be used against the
enemies of Allah will rust and you will use them against one another, as happens
periodically. Aim your arrows once and make war , as they war against you. Why
this fear of the State that is surrounded by Arabs and Moslems? Why
this fear? Because you do not fear Allah – whoever fears Allah, all else will
fear him.”38
“Palestine… causes the Jews to loose sleep, causes the enemies of Allah
throughout the land to lose sleep… it is a bleeding wound, and it will
continue to bleed forever and ever. … Jerusalem is a symbol… to the Moslems
and to their war of Jihad forever and ever.”39
Part 5.
Prayers for the Destruction of the Jews
“The victory is coming, the victory is coming, the victory is coming! Allah
show us your marvels against the Jews! Show them a black day, like the day of
A’ad and Tha’mud! . Because they
boasted to us of their strength! Show us the prince against them, show them a
black day! Allah, transform them into the Moslems’ spoils of war! Allah,
transform them into our spoils of war!”40
“Allah, strengthen us… show us your power on them… Allah, take the
Jews…”41
“Allah, show us your wondrous capabilities on the Jews. Allah, show us on the
Jews a day like A’ad and Tha’mud! Allah, transform
them into spoils of war for us and all Moslems!”42
Footnotes:
1 This ideology is preached in sermons and religious lessons that are
broadcast every Friday on official Palestinian television and radio, and from
the religious lessons appearing in PA newspapers and television.
2 Sheikh Muhammed Abd al Hadi La’afi, Responsible for Religious Teaching and
Instruction in the Office of the Wakf in the official P.A. newspaper Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida, 18, May 2001 and 27 April 2001, Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim Madi Palestinian
Television in the main Friday sermons on 30 March 2001 and 13 April 2001.
3 Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim Madi, Palestinian Television, 30 March 2001.
4 ibid., 28 July 2000
5 Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Madi, Friday Sermon, Palestinian TV, June 8, 2001
6 Sheikh Muhammed Abd Al Hadi La’afi, Responsible for Religious Teaching and
Instruction in the Office of the Wakf in the official P.A. newspaper Al-Hayat
Al-Jadida, 18, May 2001
7 The preacher Dr. Ahmed Yousuf Abu Halabiah, a member of the Palestinian
Sharianic (Islamic religious law) Rulings Council, and Rector of Advanced
Studies, the Islamic University, Palestinian Television, 13 October 2000
8 Shiekh Yuosouf Abu Sneina, Palestinian Television, 8 September 2000
9 Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim Madi, Palestinian Television., 13 April 2001
10 Palestinian Authority Television Religious Class, 17 December 98, and 16
February 99.
11 Religion class on Palestinian Television, 3 November 1998
12 Shiekh Yuosouf Abu Sneina, Official Preacher of the Al Aqsa Mosque,
Palestinian Radio , 30 April 1999
13 Shiekh Yuosouf Abu Sneina, Palestinian Television, 8 September 2000
14 Palestinian Television, 11 January 2001.
15 Dr. Ahmed Abu Halabiah, Palestinian Television, 13 October 2000.
16 Shiekh Yuosouf Abu Sneina, Official Preacher of the Al Aqsa Mosque,
Palestinian Television, 8 September 2000
17 Ahmad Abu Halabiya, Palestinian Television, 18 August 2000
18 Dr. Ahmed Yousuf Abu Halabiah, Palestinian Television, 13 April 2001
19 Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim Madi., Palestinian Television, 28 July 2000
20 ibid., 4 May 2001
21 Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Maadi, Friday Sermon, Palestinian TV, June 8, 2001
22 ibid., 4 May 2001
23 Shiekh Yuosouf Abu Sneina,.Palestinian Television, 8 September 2000
24 Palestinian Television., 1 September 2000
25 Al Hayat-Al Jadida, 24 July 2000
26 Islamic Education, sixth grade, Part A, p. 68 cited in report of Center
for monitoring the Impact of Peace
27 Islamic Education, sixth grade, Part A p. 67-68
28 Reading the Koran, sixth grade, p.78
29 Reading the Koran, sixth grade, p.20
30 Reading the Koran, sixth grade, p.23
31 Dr. Ahmed Yousuf Abu Halabiah, Palestinian Television, 18 August 2000
32 Dr. Muhammed Madi, Palestinian Television, 30 March 2001
33 ibid., 30 March 2001
34 Dr. Ahmed Yousuf Abu Halabiah, Palestinian Television, 11 August 2000
35 Dr. Muhammed Madi, Palestinian Television, 13 April 2001
36 ibid., 13 April 2001
37 ibid., 30 March 2001
38 ibid., 30 March 2001
39 ibid., 11 August 2000
40 Dr. Muhammed Madi, Palestinian Television, 13 April 2001
41 ibid., 30 March 2001
42 ibid., 4 May 2001
