Pope Benedict XVI’s apologies for worldwide reaction to his remarks about Islam and his outreach meeting this week with Muslim leaders are “mere diplomatic acts” and prove the pontiff does not really regret his words, said a prominent Gaza Strip preacher.
Benedict two weeks ago had quoted a 14th-century scholar who lamented Islam’s “spreading the faith by sword” and stated Muhammad brought things “evil and inhuman” to the world.
Sheik Abu Saqer, leader of Gaza’s Jihadia Salafiya Islamic outreach movement, which seeks to make secular Muslims more religious, called for holy war against the pope.
He said Christian leaders such as Benedict are “afraid” because they realize Islam is Allah’s favorite religion and that they will go to hell unless they convert. The Gaza preacher declared the “green flag of Muhammad” would soon be raised over the Vatican.
“The day will soon come when the green flag of La Illah Ilaha Allah (“There is no god but Allah”) and Muhammad Rasul Allah (“Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah”) will be raised upon the Vatican and all around the world and on the fortresses of those who want to destroy Islam, because they know that this religion obliges them to face the truth that Islam is Allah’s favorite religion. And until they join Islam, hell is their last station,” said Abu Saqer, speaking to WorldNetDaily from the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis.
Immediately following the pope’s remarks, Palestinians reportedly attacked five churches in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But Abu Saqer blamed the pope for the Muslim attacks.
“I am sorry that this little racist did not think of the consequences upon the Christians in the Arab world when he insulted our prophet. It is an open war – the Muslims against all the others,” Abu Saqer said.
Al Qaeda Threatens Car Bombs In Israel
A group claiming to be Al Qaeda this week announced it was behind the assassination last week of Jad Tayeh, a senior Palestinian security official, accusing Tayeh of “collaborating” with the “Zionists” and the United States. The group, calling itself Al Qaeda in Palestine, warned of more killings. It said its next attack in the region would be more even more destructive than attacks carried out thus far.
“Our next operation will be more destructive. The first tool we will use is trucks full of explosives. We therefore ask all the honest people in this nation to leave these traitors and not to work with them because we are going to punish them very soon,” stated the pamphlet.
Previous pamphlets distributed in Gaza during the past six months have been signed by independent groups claiming to work on behalf of Al Qaeda, such as the Palestine Islamic Army or the Army of Islam, but this was the first pamphlet in which the Al-Qaeda name was signed directly.
Martyr Music Video For Palestinians
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s state-run television has been broadcasting a music video in which viewers are encouraged to “martyr” themselves in exchange for eernal paradise and beautiful “maidens.”
The Israeli-based Palestinian Media Watch reports that the video, airing on television controlled by Abbas’s Fatah party, depicts a Palestinian woman purportedly shot in the back by Israeli soldiers.
The woman then is transported to “paradise” where she joins white-robed “maidens” dancing in water while waiting to marry a male Palestinian who “martyrs” himself.
In the next scene, according to PMW, a grieving Palestinian man is shot in the back by Israeli troops while visiting the grave of the woman killed at the start of the video.
The man immediately is brought to “heaven” where he is rewarded with several white-robed “maidens,” including the original woman he was mourning.