Israel propagating Judeo-Nazism
This was the gist of Dr Azzam Tamimis rhetoric at a event touted as the Palestinian Solidarity Night organised by Jemaah Islah Malaysia last Monday. Azzam is a director of the London-based Institute of Islamic Political Thought.
In his talk, the fiery speaker seemed to say, enough of retaliating with stick and stones to Israeli gun fire as it is now ripe for a full-blown all-out war that will include Muslims around the world.
Also speaking that night was Dr Alijah Gordon, chairperson of the Malaysian Sociological Research Institute, an outfit that sponsors Palestinian children and provides medical aid for Palestinians. She is also known as a radical human rights activist in Malaysia.
Alijah, in connection with the Palestinian issue, considers the Jews of Israel as propagating Judeo-Nazism.
She also read out a press statement written in Hebrew and translated by the Associated Press.
The statement said that Israel was in war against terrorism. It was a not a war that they had decided to embark on but that it was perpetrated against them.
We must fight against those terrorists...fight with no compassion...pull up the plants by their very roots, it added.
The statement stressed that the chairperson of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Yasser Arafat, is the enemy of the entire world.
Commenting on this, Alijah said, I dont want to hear people speaking about peace. What we have got is pieces. And they are trying to take even that away.
Dangerous man
She also condemned US President Geoge W Bush for backing Israel, calling him a dangerous man and an enemy of humanity .
The Israelis want to strike hard to do away with Palestinians. What is involved is a massive crime, said the New Jersey-born Alijah, they want a quick and smooth wipe out.
So can we speak of peace? she asked. We cannot. We have to resist them.
We need action and not just show up for a lecture now and again. There is no need to talk about the United Nations, (Israeli Premier Ariel) Sharon doesnt care about the (UN) resolutions, she added.
On the other hand, Azzam declared Israel an illegitimate state , adding that as long as the Zionist state exists there will be no peace in the world.
However, he claimed that religion had nothing to do with the ongoing bloodshed
The peaceful co-existence of different religions Islam, Judaism and Christianity was shattered when the Crusaders came in Palestine and ruled it for a 100 years.
The peace was shattered once again when the British took over the land. The British did not want the Jews from Russia to go to Britain, hence opened up Palestine.
The Jews did not want to come but they were persuaded. They were made to believe that all was safe for their return.
But according to Azzam, There is no safe place for Jews anywhere in the world.
The Jews have grabbed our land piece by piece under the guise that it belonged to them by virtue of their father Abraham.
We do not want peace. We want them (Israelis) out of our land, said Azzam. For Palestinians, this is not violence. This is jihad, he declared to rapturous applause from the audience.
This is not suicide bombings. This is martyrdom. Our bodies may be in pieces, but our blood flows as a stream for Allah, said Azzam to the shouts of Allahhu Akhbar from the audience.
When we loved life we were not respected. Now we love martyrdom more than life. The army of Mohamed will teach them (Israelis) a lesson, he continued.
Azzam accused the PLO as acting as a fifth column, as collaborating with the enemy. But now, the PLO is struggling, he said.
He also stressed that Palestine cannot be liberated by Palestinians alone. The ummah (Muslims of the world) must come to their aid. The world needs to be given a push. There is need for radical action, he said.
Real peace
Following Azzams fiery speech, Alijah Gordon said, We are not fighting against Jews, Christians or trying to convert anyone. We want to establish justice.
Real peace will be achieved when justice is served, she said.
During the question-and-answer session later, a member of the audience asked about the absence of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the head of state of Jordan at the recent Arab league meeting.
To this Azzam replied that they (the Arab league) were no longer relevant, and that they were a failure.
Dont expect anything from the Arab League. And King Abdullah (of Jordon) is probably at a football match somewhere, he chastened.
Meanwhile, a question with regards to Arafat elicited this reply from Azzam: He (Arafat) is in a difficult position. Arafat is losing popularity. Israel is pushing his Fatah movement to a point of no return. If Arafat is martyred, his end will be better than his position now. Arafat (has) become from defender to dictator.
The 300-odd attendees at the solidarity night at the PKNS building in Petaling Jaya were also told that there was going to be a terrible fight. And that there was a need to mobilise all Muslims, to fight with their lives.
The discussion has shifted from peace to jihad because, thus far, seminars and lectures had not made a difference. In order to push back the Israelis we need mobilisation and support, said Azzam.
He reiterated that the root cause of the conflict was not religion, claiming that the existence of an invading power and resistance against that invasion was the cause.
He said that there was no doubt that the Muslims would win the war. A doubt means doubt in your faith. The questions is do we want a part in it.
Do we want a share in this glory? he asked. There is no fear if Allah is with us. I can see Palestinians free and secularism defeated.
And at the conclusion of the speeches, the speakers agreed that the Jewish Never again slogan in reference to the holocaust must be a Muslim slogan as well.
Historical chronology of Palestine
3,000 BC: Canaanites were the people of Palestine
2,500 BC: Jerusalem established by Jebusites, a Canaanite tribe
2,000 BC: Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham migrates to the Land of Palestine/Jerusalem
1,700 to 1,500 BC: The rulers of Egypt invade Jerusalem
1,250 BC: Prophet Musa.Moses leads his people out of Egypt
1,200 BC: A people from Greece, called the Philistines, occupy the land of Canaan and probably Jerusalem and rule it for 40 years
1,200 to 1,020 BC: Jebusites rule the city of Jerusalem
1,020 BC: Prophet Daud/David fought a battle with the Philistines, destroyed them and established the Ancient Israel
965 BC: Prophet Sulayman/Solomon succeeds Daud as the King of Israel
922 BC: After Sulaymans death the kingdom of Isreal was split
926 BC: Egyptian forces occupy Jerusalem
701 BC: Assyrians capture Jerusalem and make the whole of Judea a tributary state
587 BC: Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon destroys Jerusalem including Sulaymans Temple. The Jews are either killed, exiled or taken prisoner. This is the end of Israel after a 400-year rein.
538 BC: Persian King Cyprus captures Jerusalem from Babylonians and allows the Jews to return as his citizens. The Jews rebuild Sulaymans temple.
322 BC: Alexander the Great captures Jerusalem
301 BC: Break up of Alexander the Greats kingdom. The Ptolemies of Egypt rule Palestine
200 BC: Greek/ Syrian Seleucid King Antochius forbids the practice of Judaism
167 BC: Macabbean (Jewish) revolt. Hasmonean dynasty founded, and Sulaymans Temple is restored.
134 BC: Syrians seize Jerusalem
63 BC: Pompey, head of the Roman army captures Jerusalem
70 AD: Titus, the Roman General, destroy the Temple. Jews are totally banished from Jerusalem.
135 AD: Emperor Hadrian captures Jerusalem and renames it Aelia Capitolina and expels the remaining Jews.
326 AD: Constantine, the Roman Emperor, converts to Christianity. And Christianity becomes the official religion of the Empire thus begins the Christian era of Jerusalem.
614 AD: Persians occupy Jerusalem
628 AD: Roman Emperor Heraclius occupies Jerusalem
638 AD: The Great Caliph Umar liberates Jerusalem
1099 AD: Christian Crusaders occupy Jerusalem
1187 AD: Sal-audeen reoccupies Jerusalem from the Christians
1229 AD: Jerusalem ceded by treaty for 10 years to the Crusaders
1239 AD: Muslims regain control
1243 AD: Mongols invade Jerusalem
1517 AD: Muslims of the Ottoman Empire regain control of Jerusalem
9 Dec 1917: Ottomans surrender to the British Jerusalem and Palestine come under British mandate
1948: Al Nakba (The Catastrophe) takes place as the British evacuate and Jews, destroy Palestinian villages. The State of Israel is founded.
1948 to 1967: Israel controls West Jerusalem and Jordon controls East Jerusalem
1967: Israel occupies East Jerusalem and the West bank
