Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
May 17, 2008
Pg. 9
CAIRO (AP) — Osama bin Laden vowed on Friday to fight Israel for the liberation of the Palestinians, claiming their cause was at the heart of Al Qaeda’s holy war with the West.
Mr. bin Laden’s recorded statement, his third this year, was released to coincide with Israel’s 60th anniversary and was released as President Bush was completing his visit to Israel to celebrate the occasion.
“We will continue our struggle against the Israelis and their allies,” Mr. bin Laden said in an audio statement posted on a Web site used frequently by Al Qaeda. “We are not going to give up an inch of the land of Palestine.”
Al Qaeda is increasingly using the Israeli-Arab conflict in its media campaign to rally supporters. Israel has warned of growing Qaeda activity in Palestinian territory, although the terrorist network is not believed to have taken a strong role there so far.
The Palestinian cause is the most important factor driving Al Qaeda’s war with the West, Mr. bin Laden said. He claimed it was the motivation for the 19 Muslims, most of them from Saudi Arabia, who carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“The Palestinian cause is the major issue for my nation,” he said, referring broadly to radical Islamists. “It was an important element in fueling me from the beginning and the 19 others with a great motive to fight for those subjected to injustice and the oppressed.”
The authenticity of the message could not be verified, but the voice resembled the one in past messages. While there was no indication of when the message was recorded, it referred to Israel’s 60th anniversary.
May 17, 2008
Pg. 9
CAIRO (AP) — Osama bin Laden vowed on Friday to fight Israel for the liberation of the Palestinians, claiming their cause was at the heart of Al Qaeda’s holy war with the West.
Mr. bin Laden’s recorded statement, his third this year, was released to coincide with Israel’s 60th anniversary and was released as President Bush was completing his visit to Israel to celebrate the occasion.
“We will continue our struggle against the Israelis and their allies,” Mr. bin Laden said in an audio statement posted on a Web site used frequently by Al Qaeda. “We are not going to give up an inch of the land of Palestine.”
Al Qaeda is increasingly using the Israeli-Arab conflict in its media campaign to rally supporters. Israel has warned of growing Qaeda activity in Palestinian territory, although the terrorist network is not believed to have taken a strong role there so far.
The Palestinian cause is the most important factor driving Al Qaeda’s war with the West, Mr. bin Laden said. He claimed it was the motivation for the 19 Muslims, most of them from Saudi Arabia, who carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“The Palestinian cause is the major issue for my nation,” he said, referring broadly to radical Islamists. “It was an important element in fueling me from the beginning and the 19 others with a great motive to fight for those subjected to injustice and the oppressed.”
The authenticity of the message could not be verified, but the voice resembled the one in past messages. While there was no indication of when the message was recorded, it referred to Israel’s 60th anniversary.