‘Israeli terror activated against Syria’
Thousands gather at Islamic Movement’s northern branch rally, witness Sheikh Raed Salah speech criticizing ‘Israeli, American terror’. Movement leader says, ‘Israel and occupation will disappear, Jerusalem and al-Aqsa will remain forever’Ali Waked
Published: 09.08.07, 00:16
Israel News
“As long as Jerusalem is under occupation, and al-Aqsa is under occupation, you and I are at fault, you and I are lost,” Islamist leader Sheikh Raed Salah said, addressing thousands of supporters during a rally at Umm al-Fahm Friday evening.
Organizers claimed 60,000 members of the Islamic Movement’s northern branch were attended the 12th Aqsa in Danger rally, but Israeli police sources said the turnout was closer to 10,000.
In contrast to previous years, Higher Arab Monitoring Committee Chairman Shawki Khatib was not among participants of the rally. However, MK Abas Zkoor (United Arab List-Ta'al) attended the rally for the first time as a representative of the movement’s southern branch.
“Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa mosque have experienced the occupation of other sources in the past, and they have survived that occupation. I tell Israelis that they and their occupation will disappear, and Jerusalem and al-Aqsa will remain forever,” Salah said.
He called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to unite, establish a unity government, and implement the Mecca Agreement.
“Jerusalem and al-Aqsa are calling for you, don’t let them down,” he said.
Salah called on leaders of the Arab world to prove their legitimacy, saying, “Iraq is getting slaughtered live, Sudan is being divided live, Somali is being burned live, Afghanistan is disappearing live – and now Palestine too is going through an ordeal, live.”
“Just as Israeli terror was activated against Syria two days ago, it will reach every Muslim and Arab country if we remain in this situation,” Salah said.
Addressing the situation in Gaza, Salah said, “I appeal to those of you who define themselves as the world’s conscience. How can you starve one-and-a-half million Palestinians in Gaza? Do you think your conscience is clear in light of the closure, siege, and starvation Israel is inflicting on Palestinians in the Strip through its terror, with the help of American terror?”
Salah announced that the second week of the month of Ramadan – which begins next week – will be dedicated to the collection of contributions for Gazan children and patients in the Strip who were “dealing with Israeli and American terror”.
At the end of his speech, Salah said his movement was not asking anything of Israel, and vowed that a bigger rally would soon be held in celebration of the release of Palestinian prisoners and “ubgone19s”.
‘Israeli terror activated against Syria’
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