Osama Bin Laden urges jihad, slams Arab leaders over Gaza
Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden called on Muslims to rise in a jihad (holy struggle) against the Israeli offensive in Gaza and accused Arab leaders of collusion with Israel, in an audio tape issued on Wednesday.
The Saudi-born militant said the global financial crisis had exposed the waning U.S. influence in world affairs and would in turn weaken its ally Israel.
"Our brothers in Palestine, you have suffered a lot.... the Muslims sympathise with you in what they see and hear. We, the mujahideen, sympathise with you also..." bin Laden said on the tape entitled 'A Call for Jihad to Stop the Aggression against Gaza', that appeared on Islamist websites.
"We are with you and we will not let you down. Our fate is tied to yours in fighting the Crusader-Zionist (Western-Israeli) coalition, in fighting until victory or martyrdom."
He called on Muslims to rise in support of Gazans and not to rely on Arab leaders "the great majority of whom are allied with the Crusader-Zionist coalition".
The Palestinian death toll from a 19-day-old Israeli offensive against the Islamist Hamas movement in Gaza is nearing 1,000. Israel says it has lost three civilians, hit by rockets or mortars from Gaza, and 10 soldiers.
In Washington, the White House said the tape, in which bin Laden also appealed to Muslims to donate money to militants in a "financial jihad", showed his isolation.
"It appears this tape demonstrates his isolation and continued attempts to remain relevant at a time when al Qaeda's ideology, mission and agenda are being questioned and challenged throughout the world," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"This also looks to be an effort to raise money as part of their ongoing propaganda campaign," he said.
"PATH OF JIHAD"
In the 22-minute tape, bin Laden said the United States was losing its dominant position in the world and that this was due to al Qaeda's campaign.
"The jihad of your sons against the Crusader-Zionist coalition is one of the key reasons for these destructive effects among our enemies," bin Laden said. "God has bestowed us with the patience to continue the path of jihad for another seven years, and seven and seven... The question is, can America continue its war with us for several more decades to come? Reports and evidence would suggest otherwise."
Bin Laden was last heard on an audio tape in May 2008 when he also focused on Gaza, calling on Muslims to try to help end the blockade of the area.
He has placed growing emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years and Wednesday's audio tape was accompanied by a still picture of bin Laden and an image of al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest shrine.
Al Qaeda, the network behind the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities, has regularly called for attacks on Israel.
It was widely blamed for a 2002 suicide attack on an Israeli-owned hotel in Kenya and a simultaneous failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli charter jet near Mombasa airport.
- Reuters
The Saudi-born militant said the global financial crisis had exposed the waning U.S. influence in world affairs and would in turn weaken its ally Israel.
"Our brothers in Palestine, you have suffered a lot.... the Muslims sympathise with you in what they see and hear. We, the mujahideen, sympathise with you also..." bin Laden said on the tape entitled 'A Call for Jihad to Stop the Aggression against Gaza', that appeared on Islamist websites.
"We are with you and we will not let you down. Our fate is tied to yours in fighting the Crusader-Zionist (Western-Israeli) coalition, in fighting until victory or martyrdom."
He called on Muslims to rise in support of Gazans and not to rely on Arab leaders "the great majority of whom are allied with the Crusader-Zionist coalition".
The Palestinian death toll from a 19-day-old Israeli offensive against the Islamist Hamas movement in Gaza is nearing 1,000. Israel says it has lost three civilians, hit by rockets or mortars from Gaza, and 10 soldiers.
In Washington, the White House said the tape, in which bin Laden also appealed to Muslims to donate money to militants in a "financial jihad", showed his isolation.
"It appears this tape demonstrates his isolation and continued attempts to remain relevant at a time when al Qaeda's ideology, mission and agenda are being questioned and challenged throughout the world," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"This also looks to be an effort to raise money as part of their ongoing propaganda campaign," he said.
"PATH OF JIHAD"
In the 22-minute tape, bin Laden said the United States was losing its dominant position in the world and that this was due to al Qaeda's campaign.
"The jihad of your sons against the Crusader-Zionist coalition is one of the key reasons for these destructive effects among our enemies," bin Laden said. "God has bestowed us with the patience to continue the path of jihad for another seven years, and seven and seven... The question is, can America continue its war with us for several more decades to come? Reports and evidence would suggest otherwise."
Bin Laden was last heard on an audio tape in May 2008 when he also focused on Gaza, calling on Muslims to try to help end the blockade of the area.
He has placed growing emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years and Wednesday's audio tape was accompanied by a still picture of bin Laden and an image of al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest shrine.
Al Qaeda, the network behind the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities, has regularly called for attacks on Israel.
It was widely blamed for a 2002 suicide attack on an Israeli-owned hotel in Kenya and a simultaneous failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli charter jet near Mombasa airport.
- Reuters
MOHD ADHA MOHD ZAIN (ADHA ZAIN)
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