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Last update - 23:33 28/12/2008
Saudi cleric issues fatwa urging Muslims to avenge Gaza raids
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: israel, hamas, gaza 

A Saudi Web site on Sunday reported that a popular cleric has issued a fatwa urging Muslims to target Israeli interests everywhere, to avenge the attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The site, Rasid, posts news about Saudi Arabia's Shiite community and on Sunday said that Sheik Awadh al-Garni has issued a religious edict urging Muslims to strike anything that has a link to Israel, calling it a legitimate target for Muslims everywhere.

Al-Garni, whose is popular in the kingdom, is not a member of the official religious establishment.
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Fatwas are not legally binding, and it is up to the individual Muslim to follow them.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday also issued a religious decree to Muslims around the world, ordering them to defend Palestinians against Israel's attacks on Gaza, state television said.

"All Palestinian combatants and all the Islamic world's pious people are obliged to defend the defenseless women, children and people in Gaza in any way possible. Whoever is killed in this legitimate defense is considered a martyr," state television quoted Khamenei as saying in a statement.

Israel launched an unprecedented assault on the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least 280 people and sparking protests and condemnations throughout the Arab world.

Many of Israel's Western allies urged restraint, though the U.S. blamed Hamas for the fighting.

In his statement on Sunday, Khamenei also criticized some Arab governments for their "encouraging silence" towards the Israel's raids on Gaza.

Hamas leaders go into hiding

Meanwhile, Hamas' political leaders in the Gaza Strip have gone into hiding in the wake of Israel's operation on the coastal territory, fearing that they will once again be targeted in the attacks.

In Damascus, Syria, Hamas' top leader, Khaled Meshal, called on Palestinians to rekindle their fight against Israel and renew suicide bombings against Israeli targets. "This is the time for a third Intifada," he said.

In a speech broadcast on local Gaza television, Hamas' prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, declared his movement would not be cowed. "We are stronger, and more determined, and have more will, and we will hold onto our rights even more than before," Haniyeh said.

Abu Ubeida, spokesman for the organization's military wing, the Iz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades vowed harsh retaliation: "The Israeli occupation needs to know that it has cast itself into the fire," he said.

Abbas says attacks could have been avoided

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday the Islamist group Hamas could have avoided the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

"We talked to them and we told them 'please, we ask you, do not end the truce. Let the truce continue and not stop' so that we could have avoided what happened," he said in Cairo.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Sunday that Hamas was not allowing Palestinians wounded in Israel's attacks on Gaza to cross into Egypt for treatment.

"We are waiting for the wounded Palestinians to cross. They are not being allowed to cross," he told reporters. Asked who was to blame, he said: "Ask the party in control on the ground in Gaza."

Gheit said that said that Cairo, which has mediated between Hamas and Israel and between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, summoned the Israeli ambassador to the Foreign Ministry on Sunday for the second day
in a row to complain about Israeli military operations.

"We object to this and we demand a stop and that the Israeli army does not carry out a new invasion," he said.

The Egyptian minister said a cease-fire would be the aim of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo on Wednesday.

Several Arab leaders have also proposed an Arab summit to respond to the attacks on Gaza but Aboul Gheit suggested that a summit could be some way off.

"Priority is the Arab measures at the level of foreign ministers ... then we can look at a later phase, but we don't imagine moving without proper preparation for such a summit. First we have to look at the ceasefire measures," he said.

The TV images of dead and wounded Gazans has inflamed Arab public opinion, and protests erupted in Arab Israeli villages, the West Bank and elsewhere in the Arab world.

The campaign embarrassed moderate Arab regimes that have encouraged
Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking and weakened Hamas' rival, Abbas, who has ruled only the West Bank since Hamas violently seized control of Gaza in June 2007.

Abbas condemned the attacks on Saturday, but fearing violence could spiral out of control, his forces also broke up protests in the West Bank.

The offensive risked opening new fronts, including unrest that could
destabilize the West Bank and ignite possible rocket attacks by Lebanese
Hezbollah guerrillas on northern Israel.

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      1.   Excursion time 09:23  |  sharon 28/12/08
      2.   Hamas leaders go into hiding but call for attacks 09:23  |  Michael 28/12/08
      3.   Third intifada 09:25  |  36 chambers 28/12/08
      4.   Time To Expel Them All 09:34  |  Yishai Kohen 28/12/08
      5.   hope soon 09:36  |  c 28/12/08
      6.   Khaled Meshal calls for 3rd Intifada 09:49  |  Peter Williams 28/12/08
      7.   It`s time the Gazan`s had a new election,not 09:49  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      8.   3rd entifada??? 09:52  |  Daniela 28/12/08
      9.   Isn`t Israel "begging" for a third Intifada.....???? 09:53  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/12/08
      10.   CONTINUE WAR TO END GAZA HAMAS CONTROL! NO PLACE FOR TERROR AGAIN 09:55  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 28/12/08
      11.   Israel had no problem expelling Rabbi Kahane,you`re going to come 09:56  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      12.   Anti-Fada only works against Arbs 09:57  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/12/08
      13.   Strike three....you`rrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeee OUT! 10:00  |  Joe Sittizen 28/12/08
      14.   More zionist lies 10:06  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      15.   You don`t get it do you? 10:08  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      16.   and you still dont get it do you! 10:10  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      17.   Arb collective mentality is in deplorable condition,self inflicte 10:16  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/12/08
      18.   better missiles? 10:19  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      19.   Swiss (Dino) #9 Please Do NOT Play with the Elephant 10:22  |  Gil 28/12/08
      20.   Intifada 10:22  |  Sasha 28/12/08
      21.   Swiss (Dino) #9 Please Do NOT Play with the Elephant 10:23  |  Gil 28/12/08
      22.   Shame on you 10:24  |  Pooya 28/12/08
      23.   Time To Expel Them All 10:27  |  Hossam 28/12/08
      24.   Time 10:31  |  Shmuelshachor 28/12/08
      25.   The enemy of the Middle East is not West or Israel but modernism 10:38  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/12/08
      26.   117, Berlusconi clone? 10:39  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      27.   #22 see my post #17. It applies to you too 10:41  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/12/08
      28.   Hamas, you have had your third intifada 10:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/12/08
      29.   Swiss 10:55  |  Aby 28/12/08
      30.   #9swissD,Do you have any idea of how crazy you sound? 11:00  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      31.   @John! 11:04  |  Truth 28/12/08
      32.   28 you fool it is not over yet 11:04  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      33.   Well done Israel From India 11:08  |  Sujit 28/12/08
      34.   30 the poor Suzanna/Shosh! 11:08  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      35.   Dino n. 9 11:10  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      36.   John truth is different 11:12  |  Aby 28/12/08
      37.   Hamas -the inventors of suicide bombers of children 11:16  |  Jo 28/12/08
      38.   Hamas Leadership: Cowards 11:20  |  JonathanInTelAviv 28/12/08
      39.   Israel has to take a much stronger stand against Hamas! 11:23  |  Sid 28/12/08
      40.   John,And still you don`t get it 11:27  |  Aby 28/12/08
      41.   Do Hammas learn from this lesson? 11:28  |  Tamree 28/12/08
      42.   Do we detect any hypocracy here 11:32  |  dovvod 28/12/08
      43.   Hezb Allah 11:34  |  Imad 28/12/08
      44.   #20,SashaYou have a death wish for people thousands of mile from 11:38  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      45.   Israel - you`re right We Love You!!! 11:41  |  Cindy 28/12/08
      46.   Swiss Dino - supports evil!! 11:42  |  Cindy 28/12/08
      47.   We strongly support Israel!! 11:43  |  Michelle 28/12/08
      48.   #22poo on you,too-may the Earth crack open and swollow your army. 11:44  |  Susanna/Shoshanna 28/12/08
      49.   #22poo on you,too-may the Earth crack open and swollow your army. 11:44  |  Susanna/Shoshanna 28/12/08
      50.   No one can question Israel`s legitimate right to protect itself!! 11:45  |  Dennis 28/12/08
      51.   John the truth still does not understand 11:49  |  dovvod 28/12/08
      52.   Swiss Dino - #9 spokesperson for.... 11:50  |  Laurie 28/12/08
      53.   Bring on a 3d intifada!! 11:52  |  Lance 28/12/08
      54.   3rd, 4th, 5th intifada...what`s the difference? 11:53  |  Jacques 28/12/08
      55.   36 and 40 thank you! 11:54  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      56.   #37 Jo- so true... 12:06  |  Jacques 28/12/08
      57.   why kill children, women and innocent civilians 12:15  |  raza 28/12/08
      58.   44 another stupid American 12:20  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      59.   Swiss Dino 12:24  |  Daniela 28/12/08
      60.   Israel`s right to protect itself 12:25  |  Palestinian Brit 28/12/08
      61.   #34 truth be told john,I`d like to make it my job to 12:26  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      62.   to #9 Dino 12:30  |  El_Justiciero 28/12/08
      63.   Yishai`s intentions #4... always in same direction... 12:38  |  Esther 28/12/08
      64.   to 32 Loud Mouth John and the BS 12:41  |  Levi 28/12/08
      65.   Third intifada now?... not so sure... 12:45  |  Esther 28/12/08
      66.   Hamas as usual threat civilian because they are cowards 12:48  |  Daniel 28/12/08
      67.   UN all in the pockets of the petrodollars 12:52  |  Jeff 28/12/08
      68.   #44Israel will have to chop the head of the snake, before it 12:56  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      69.   Hamas 12:57  |  Hamas 28/12/08
      70.   Israeli attack to Gaza 13:16  |  joan cabot 28/12/08
      71.   Suzanna, why 13:22  |  John and the truth 28/12/08
      72.   Abbas the Traitor 13:28  |  Down wih Abbas 28/12/08
      73.   #57raza,do you take us for idiots,a bit late to pray for baby Mos 13:41  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      74.   #66, Who is the coward? 13:46  |  Justice 28/12/08
      75.   #58 brilliant John,let me explain this slooowly,Hamas is a terror 13:50  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      76.   The Arabs are all rubbing their hands... 13:57  |  Dave 28/12/08
      77.   Bring it on, loosers 13:58  |  Dan 28/12/08
      78.   #60 Palastinian Brit,you `re senseless-how can Israel 13:59  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      79.   #63Esther-you are a mockery to your name 14:04  |  Susanna/shoshana 28/12/08
      80.   strick back 14:05  |  mansour 28/12/08
      81.   # 14 John and 14:06  |  Affirmative 28/12/08
      82.   "Hamas political leadrs in Gaza have gone into hiding" 14:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/12/08
      83.   Well said JOHN AND THE TRUTH 14:08  |  OETIS 28/12/08
      84.   # 26 John and 14:09  |  you should try too 28/12/08
      85.   Daniel threatens to finish the job from Amsterdam # 66 14:12  |  Clickfool 28/12/08
      86.   #70 joan cabot-may the equivalent of Hamas rain terror on you& yo 14:15  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      87.   #82: Cipora Julianna Kohn I chuckled when I read your post 14:24  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 28/12/08
      88.   #71 John the diplomat is insulted by my English,I think I will 14:25  |  Susanna/Shoshana 28/12/08
      89.   awwww,john #14,15,16 and 18 no need to get your panties in a wad 15:17  |  terrornator 28/12/08
      90.   Israel will pay butchering children, IDF has no honour 15:19  |  mehmet 28/12/08
      91.   Jhon U R telling the truth, from your side 15:19  |  Simon 28/12/08
      92.   john,the lying rat bastard #18 are you begging lebanon to get 15:23  |  terrornator 28/12/08
      93.   The come back of the suicide bombers 15:24  |  Samantha 28/12/08
      94.   # 82 Cipora JK...of course they won`t 15:28  |  Lynn 28/12/08
      95.   #57 Raza, wish Hamas had as much compassion for its people as 15:29  |  Alicia 28/12/08
      96.   Ein Efes. This must be done thoroughly! 15:29  |  Efroim 28/12/08
      97.   Iran Supreme Mullah is to blame for this war 15:33  |  Realist 28/12/08
      98.   John & the truth 15:38  |  Magpie 28/12/08
      99.   Where is Iran? 15:39  |  Jack 28/12/08
      100.   Purpose of the Gaza campaign? 17:32  |  Anonymous 28/12/08
      101.   Islamic terrorism is the world`s greatest threat 18:06  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 28/12/08
      102.   IRAN IS NEXT...... 18:13  |  dp 28/12/08
      103.   try not to think of it as an airstrike 18:43  |  36 chambers 28/12/08
      104.   To Dave @ 76 - The Arab League must be ecstatic 22:42  |  Alina Adrian 28/12/08
      105.   9Dino Its you who is begging for another Intifada (6th try) 01:07  |  Rob 29/12/08
      106.   Watch the North 01:09  |  Terry Traub 29/12/08
      107.   Why isn`t this Saudi cleric in Jail? 01:23  |  Michael J 29/12/08
      108.   # 70Joan Cabot 01:34  |  Sam 29/12/08
      109.   peace 03:47  |  bourk 29/12/08
      110.   third intifada? 04:19  |  Jennifer 29/12/08
      111.   IRAN IS NEXT 08:55  |  Ali 29/12/08
      112.   Abbas and Egypt are traitors to Palestine 08:55  |  ELIAS KHOURY 29/12/08
      113.   Mehmet 15:41  |  David Israel 29/12/08
      114.   Raza - An answer 19:11  |  BB 29/12/08
      115.   response to Elias 112 21:32  |  farmer 29/12/08
      116.   #111 Damn on you if you are an Iranian! 21:37  |  Shapour 29/12/08
      117.   John and the truth 02:34  |  Dalton 30/12/08
      118.   Peaceful world 09:00  |  Ruz 30/12/08
      119.   hamas has no friends 21:28  |  everyone 30/12/08
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