PA religious leaders threaten religious war over Jerusalem
Palestinian religious leaders
threaten religious war over Jerusalem
Terror attack kills 4 in Jerusalem,
following incitement by PA religious leaders
On US plans to move embassy to Jerusalem, Israel's capital:
Abbas' advisor on religious affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash:
- "It is a declaration of war on all Muslims"
- "This will not pass in silence"
- "In matters of religion, faith, values, ethics, and history, there can be no compromises
Abbas' advisor on NGOs, Sultan Abu Al-Einein:
- "Transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem will lead to bloodshed"
Head of the Supreme Muslim Council and head preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Ikrima Sabri:
- "What this means is that America recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the Jews, and in doing so America will declare a new war against the Palestinians and also against the Arabs and the Muslims"
Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee, Saeb Erekat
- "If you transfer the embassy and agree to the annexation of the settlements in the West Bank, you will drag the region into a state of anarchy, extremism, and lawlessness"
Fatah Spokesman Osama Al-Qawasmi:
- "Any step regarding transferring the American embassy from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem will directly cause an explosion"
Fatah Revolutionary Council member Dr. Hanna Issa:
- "Warned against igniting the region... and warned of a religious war"
Itamar Marcus
In recent days, PA leaders have repeatedly threatened war and violence in response to the US potential recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital by moving its embassy to Jerusalem. As Palestinian Media Watch has documented, Palestinian incitement to violence often accompanies Palestinian terror. Today, a Palestinian terrorist drove a truck into a group of soldiers who had just gotten off a bus in Jerusalem, murdering three women and one man and injuring several.
At least six Palestinian leaders close to Mahmoud Abbas threatened violence recently, some explicitly threatening a religious war.
On Friday, in a sermon in the presence of Mahmoud Abbas himself, Abbas' advisor on religion Mahmoud Al-Habbash said American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital by moving the embassy "is a declaration of war on all Muslims." Al-Habbash preached that moving the embassy to Jerusalem "harms" Muslim faith, and then threatened: "This will not pass in silence":
"The new American administration intends to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem. In a simple, calm, and rational manner, in clear words that need no explanation and which are unambiguous: Such a step, for every Muslim, is a declaration of war on all Muslims. It's a declaration of war on all Muslims... when something harms our faith and our existence, we cannot stand by and do nothing. We will not agree to this under any circumstances. This will not pass in silence."
[Official PA TV, Jan. 6, 2017]
Al-Habbash turned Jerusalem into the basis for an uncompromising Palestinian Islamic war by stressing that the PA sees Jerusalem remaining exclusively Muslim as a religious Islamic imperative about which Muslims will not compromise:
"In politics there can be compromises here and there... In politics there can be negotiation. However, in matters of religion, faith, values, ethics, and history, there can be no compromises. Therefore, it isn't possible to compromise on or negotiate over Jerusalem."
Another senior religious leader, the head of the Supreme Muslim Council and head preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Ikrima Sabri likewise threatened war:
"What this means is that America recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the Jews, and in doing so America will declare a new war against the Palestinians and also against the Arabs and the Muslims."
[Al-Msjed Al-Aqsa YouTube channel, Dec. 16, 2016]
Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erekat warned that moving the embassy would lead to a regional war:
"I turn directly to David Friedman and Trump - if you transfer the embassy and agree to the annexation of the settlements in the West Bank, you will drag the region into a state of anarchy, extremism, and lawlessness."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 17, 2016]
Abbas' advisor on NGOs, Sultan Abu Al-Einein, also threatened violence:
"Transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem will lead to bloodshed... a strong Palestinian intifada will break out in the Palestinian territories... Likewise, he said that it is a foolish step that will ignite the situation in the street... This will increase the Palestinian rage."
[Wattan, independent Palestinian news agency, Jan. 4, 2017]
Fatah likewise promised violence. Fatah Movement Spokesman Osama Al-Qawasmi:
"Any step regarding transferring the American embassy from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem will directly cause an explosion of the situation in the region in general."
[WAFA, official PA news agency, Jan. 8, 2017]
A Palestinian Christian leader likewise warned of a religious war:
"Expert on international law, Fatah Revolutionary Council member Dr. Hanna Issa warned against igniting the region... and warned of a religious war."
[WAFA, official PA news agency, Jan. 8, 2017]
The following are longer excerpts of the Palestinian statements regarding the possible US embassy move:
Friday sermon by Supreme Shari'ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas' advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash, in the presence of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: "The new American administration intends to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem. In a simple, calm, and rational manner, in clear words that need no explanation and which are unambiguous: Such a step, for every Muslim, is a declaration of war on all Muslims. It's a declaration of war on all Muslims. We are no one's enemies, and we do not want to be. We are not enemies of the US and we do not want to be. However, when something harms our faith and our existence, we cannot stand by and do nothing. We will not agree to this under any circumstances. This will not pass in silence... The entire Muslim world will not accept it, and the entire Christian world will not accept it. Occupied Jerusalem is our eternal capital, the capital of our existence and the capital of our state. In politics there can be compromises here and there... In politics there can be negotiation. However, in matters of religion, faith, values, ethics, and history, there can be no compromises. Therefore, it isn't possible to compromise on or negotiate over Jerusalem. This of course does not mean that we will prevent anyone from considering Jerusalem their direction of prayer. Our Jerusalem will remain open to all believers as it has been. Open to all of the monotheists."
[Friday sermon in presence of PA Chairman Abbas, Official PA TV, Jan. 6, 2017]
Head of the Supreme Muslim Council and head preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: "My sermon will talk about... the promise [by US President-elect Trump] to transfer the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. I ask: Why did the American Republican [presidential] candidate promise this during the election campaign? The answer is clear: In order to please the Jews in America and the world at the expense of the right of the original people of Palestine, because transferring the embassy is an acknowledgement that Jerusalem is a capital for the Jews, and an annulment of the right of the Muslims to the city. This promise opposes the so-called international resolutions, which view Jerusalem as an occupied city and not an Israeli city. Worshippers, people of the land of [Prophet Muhammad's] Night Journey, if we assume that this [will happen], it means is that America recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the Jews, and in doing so America will declare a new war against the Palestinians and also against the Arabs and the Muslims, because Jerusalem is the place of Muhammad's Night Journey, and the place of his Ascent to Heaven. It is a gate between Heaven and earth. It is connected to Mecca and Medina, and Jesus, peace be upon him, lived in it. We say to those who run after America so that it will solve their problems - we say to them that this is the true face of America. It is not thinking of how to achieve peace for you at all. America equipped Israel with advanced fighter jets a few days ago. America has ignited wars in most of the countries of the Arab and Muslim world, and these wars continue to burn."
[Sermon by Head of the Supreme Muslim Council Sheikh Ikrima Sabri
at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Msjed Al-Aqsa YouTube channel, Dec. 16, 2016]
Headline: "Sultan Abu Al-Einein: Transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem will lead to bloodshed"
"Fatah Movement leadership member [and advisor to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on NGOs] Sultan Abu Al-Einein said that a strong Palestinian intifada will break out in the Palestinian territories if American President-elect Donald Trump keeps his promise to transfer the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Likewise, he said that it is a foolish step that will ignite the situation in the street, and added during a TV interview that this will increase the Palestinian rage that has been caused by the Israeli arrogance of continuing the construction of the settlements."
[Wattan, independent Palestinian news agency, Jan. 4, 2017]
Headline: "Israel welcomes the appointment of the American Jew David Friedman as Washington's new ambassador in Tel Aviv - Erekat warns: The transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem and the agreement to the annexation of the settlements will drag the region into anarchy - Friedman supports the settlers and casts doubt on the two-state solution..."
"Secretary[-General] of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erekat warned US President-elect Donald Trump yesterday [Dec. 16, 2016] against his intention to transfer the US embassy to Jerusalem. He emphasized that such a decision will destroy the peace process with Israel.
It should be noted that Trump on Thursday [Dec. 15, 2016] announced the appointment of the American Jew David Friedman as the US Ambassador to Israel. He is a lawyer who emphasized that he eagerly anticipates fulfilling his mission 'in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem,' as he put it. This constitutes a most sensitive point in the region.
Erekat said in statements to journalists that the status of Jerusalem must be subject to negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and that making any decision today 'would destroy the peace process.' Erekat added: 'I turn directly to David Friedman and Trump - if you transfer the embassy and agree to the annexation of the settlements in the West Bank, you will drag the region into a state of anarchy, extremism, and lawlessness.' He continued [by saying] that 'The US is a state of institutions that acts in accordance with its national interests,' and added that he does not think 'that the Americans will transfer their embassy to Jerusalem.'"
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 17, 2016]
Headline: "Fatah: Transferring the American embassy to East Jerusalem means an explosion of the situation in the region"
"Fatah Movement Spokesman Osama Al-Qawasmi said that East Jerusalem is a red line, and it is the capital of the Palestinian state that is recognized by the UN, and part of the Palestinian territories that were occupied in 1967. He added that any step regarding transferring the American embassy from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem will directly cause an explosion of the situation in the region in general.
Al-Qawasmi emphasized in a press statement today, Sunday [Jan. 8, 2017], that taking any step in this matter contradicts international law and constitutes a violation of the rights of the Palestinian people that have been approved and anchored by the international bodies. Likewise, he emphasized that this step will turn the US into a side in the conflict instead of a mediator in the political process, which will have severe consequences on the security and peace in the world."
[WAFA, official PA news agency, Jan. 8, 2017]
Headline: "Issa: Transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem will ignite a religious war in the region"
"Expert on international law, Fatah Revolutionary Council member [and Secretary-General of the PA Islamic-Christian Council for Jerusalem and the Holy Places] Dr. Hanna Issa warned against igniting the region if the American embassy is transferred to occupied Jerusalem, and warned of a religious war. Issa said in an interview with Radio Mawtini today, Sunday [Jan. 8, 2017]: 'I cannot predict what the response will be to the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem,' and noted that if the US transfers its embassy, it will explicitly violate international law. Likewise, he warned of a new religious war, and emphasized that transferring the American embassy to occupied Jerusalem is in contradiction of the international resolutions.
Issa emphasized that Jerusalem is under the administration of the occupation regime, and it is forbidden to apply sovereignty to occupied land. He noted that transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem contradicts US foreign policy, which it has expressed since 1974, according to which Jerusalem is one of the holy sites on a global level and East Jerusalem is an occupied area that is subject to the law of belligerent occupation, and it is forbidden to the occupation state to change its characteristics."
[WAFA, official PA news agency, Jan. 8, 2017]