Abbas' advisor incites religious war

Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik | Dec 13, 2017

Abbas' advisor incites religious war:

US president Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is "a crime against humanity"

"How do the Muslims of the world allow this sin?"

"It will open the gates of hell... The Muslims will act"

In his Friday sermon at the PA headquarters, Abbas' advisor on religious affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash incited Palestinians to religious war. Condemning US President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital as "a crime against humanity" and "a sin," Al-Habbash encouraged Muslims and Christians worldwide to "act." He asked rhetorically: "How do the Muslims of the world allow this sin?" And answered later in the speech that "the Muslims will act."

The following are parts of Al-Habbash's speech:

1. US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of the State of Israel is "a crime against humanity":

Al-Habbash: "This crime that American President [Trump] committed [by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital] is not only against Palestine, but also against all of humanity, against the Muslims, and against the Christians."
[Official PA TV, Dec. 8, 2017]

2. Trump is destined for the "dustbin of history" like Balfour

Al-Habbash compared US President Trump to former British Minister of Foreign Affairs Arthur Balfour, and described them both as people going to "the dustbin of history," whose actions are irrelevant and will not have long term impact:

Al-Habbash: "How does he [Trump] allow himself to give the keys to Jerusalem to those who are not of its people? He wants to repeat the sin and crime of [former British Foreign Secretary] Balfour. Okay, Balfour has been relegated to the dustbin of history, and Palestine has remained, and Jerusalem has remained, and this one [Trump] will follow in [Balfour's] footsteps."

Palestinian Media Watch has documented that PA leaders are comparing Trump to Balfour,describing both as "one with no ownership" who gave "Palestine" and Jerusalem to "one with no right."

3. Calling for religious war: Trump's declaration is "a sin" - Muslims should not put up with it. "Gates of hell" will open, destiny of Palestinians is to seek Martyrdom for Jerusalem, give "their souls and bodies"

Repeatedly Al-Habbash referred to Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital as "a sin," and stated that it will "open the gates of hell." He encouraged Muslims all over the world - in "the East and the West" - to act, and explained that Palestinians are to give their "souls and bodies" for Jerusalem - in other words, to die as "Martyrs":

Al-Habbash: "How do the Muslims of the world allow this sin? How do the Christians of the world allow handing over the keys to [the Church of] the Holy Sepulchre to those who are not from Jerusalem, to those who are not Palestinians... It could be that everyone knows and everyone assumes that this sin, which the American president committed, will open the gates of hell, as Sheikh Al-Azhar said - not only in the East, but in both the East and the West. Nobody should think, wherever he is in the world, that he will be able to prevent the consequences of this sin...The US president can do what he wants and say what he wants, maybe he can also blow us up, destroy us, kill us, and put us in prison. He will do this and we will smile. We will smile because we know that this is part of the price of which Jerusalem is deserving, [it is] part of the price. Jerusalem is a bride whose bride price is souls... and we are her betrothed. We are her people, and our souls, our bodies, and our children are a sacrifice for Jerusalem... Jerusalem is ours and will remain ours."

4. The US is "the enemy of the Muslims and Christians... and humanity." Humanity and Muslims will "act"

Al-Habbash declared the US the "enemy" of all "humanity," and incited a religious war by calling the declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital an "aggression" against Muslims, Christians, and humanity. He encouraged these groups to act, saying he "does not think" that "humanity will be silent":

Al-Habbash: "The US is pleased with itself that it has elected a president that makes it an enemy of the Muslims and Christians throughout the world. A president who wants to be an enemy of humanity. A president who wants to be an enemy of all the people... This decision is aggression against Islam, aggression against Christianity, aggression against the Quran, aggression against the New Testament, aggression against the Muslims, aggression against the Christians, aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, aggression against the Holy Sepulchre, and aggression against humanity. And humanity - I don't think it will allow [this] or be silent about this aggression. Humanity will not be silent. I'm sure about this and I'm sure that the nation will not be silent. The Muslims will act."

;This close advisor to Abbas has taught in the past that the conflict with Israel is a religious war against Jews, who he said are working with devils and Satan. Palestinians represent "Allah's project" and are in conflict with Israel - "Satan's project."

5. Erases Jewish history in Jerusalem, fabricates ancient Palestinian people

Al-Habbash: "Jerusalem is ours and not yours. It has been ours for 5,000 years and it will remain ours until Allah will inherit the earth and whoever is on it."
[Official PA TV, Dec. 8, 2017]

In another speech this week, Al-Habbash continued to incite, and called on Palestinians to come to the Al-Aqsa Mosque "carry out Ribat in it" and "protect its sanctity":

"Al-Habbash demanded that the members of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem and in the 1948 territories (i.e., Israel) and everyone who can come to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in it, and protect its sanctity. He again demanded that Muslims and Christians alike visit the holy city [of Jerusalem] and carry out Ribat at its holy sites, in order to support its [Arab] residents and oppose the American policy and Israeli aggression...

Al-Habbash warned the occupation government not to take any crazy steps regarding the holy city and the holy sites in it."

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 11, 2017]

The following are longer excerpts of some of the statements above:

Headline: "Al-Habbash: Israel is playing with fire; Jerusalem is the headline of the current period"

"Supreme Shari'ah Judge of Palestine, [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas'] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, [and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice] Mahmoud Al-Habbash emphasized that the occupation state is playing with fire when it attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem...

Al-Habbash said this in response to the extremist calls made yesterday [Dec. 10, 2017] by groups called 'The Temple Mount Faithful,' which called to carry out widespread invasions of the holy site of Jerusalem (i.e., the Temple Mount) with the support of the occupation police and under its protection.

Al-Habbash demanded that the members of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem and in the 1948 territories (i.e., Israel) and everyone who can come to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in it, and protect its sanctity. He again demanded that Muslims and Christians alike visit the holy city [of Jerusalem] and carry out Ribat at its holy sites, in order to support its [Arab] residents and oppose the American policy and Israeli aggression...

Al-Habbash warned the occupation government not to take any crazy steps regarding the holy city and the holy sites in itfollowing the reckless and irresponsible decision of the American administration (i.e., to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and transfer the US embassy to it; see note below)...

Al-Habbash explained that the international community - which opposed the unfair American decision against Jerusalem - needs to implement its authorities, put an end to the violations of the occupation state and the extremist Jewish groups against the holy site of Jerusalem, and declare Israel to be a state that sponsors terror and threatens the security and peace of the world."

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 11, 2017]

Break-in/Invasion/attack of Al-Aqsa Mosque - The PA and its leaders misrepresent all of the Temple Mount as an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Therefore, they vilify any presence of Jews on the mount as an "invasion." It should be noted that Jews who visit the Temple Mount only enter some sections of the open areas, and do not enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock. Israeli police ban Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount because of threats of violence by Palestinians.

The Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917 was a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Baron Rothschild stating that "His Majesty's government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people." In 1922, the League of Nations adopted this and made the British Mandate "responsible for putting into effect the declaration," which led to the UN vote in favor of partitioning Mandatory Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state in 1947. In response, Britain ended its mandate on May 15, 1948, and the Palestinian Jews, who accepted the Partition Plan, declared the independent State of Israel. The Palestinian Arabs rejected the plan and together with 7 Arab states attacked Israel, in what is now known as Israel's War of Independence.

US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations. The US embassy was transferred from Tel Aviv and opened in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018, the anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence in 1948 according to the Gregorian calendar.

Abbas' advisor incites religious war

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