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An image taken from the purported al-Qaida video presentation posted Friday on an Islamic militant Web site. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 06:41 15/12/2007 Al-Qaida's No. 2: Annapolis summit was betrayal of Palestinians By The Associated Press Tags: Al-Qaida, Bin Laden  Al-Qaida's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri said last month's U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference was a betrayal aimed at selling out the Palestinians in a new message, the terror group's first reaction to the gathering. The audiotape released Friday by Osama bin Laden's deputy was the latest al-Qaida attempt to rally Muslims behind it by using the widespread bitterness felt towards Israel over the Palestinian issue. Al-Zawahri focused his anger against Egypt, a top U.S. ally and the first Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel, calling on Bedouin in Egypt to rise up against the rule of President Hosni Mubarak. Advertisement The Nov. 27 peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, relaunched Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and was attended by most Arab nations, including leading players Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria - despite their initial reluctance to participate in a gathering many Arabs worried would not commit Israel to making concessions. "The Annapolis meeting was held to turn Palestine into a Jewish state," al-Zawahri said in the 20-minute audiotape posted on an Islamic militant Web forum. The posting carried a still photo of the white-turbaned al-Zawhari against a backdrop photograph from the Maryland conference. "The czar of Washington invited 16 Arab countries... to sit in one room, at one table with the Israelis," al-Zawahri said, adding that the conference witnessed the "betrayal deals to sell Palestine." The authenticity of the tape could not be independently confirmed, but the voice was recognizable as that of al-Zawahari. It was posted by al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, on a site where it usually releases its messages. The site also had a banner advertising an upcoming interview of al-Zawahri by al-Sahab, with a picture of him in a white traditional Arab robe and white turban, seated before a bookshelf. Such advertisements are usually posted up to 72 hours before the message is released. "My brothers in Palestine, we, all Muslims, the mujahedeen [holy warriors] are by your side in your confrontation with the Zionist enemy," al-Zawahri said. "We will not let you down even if your politicians do." The Egyptian-born al-Zawahri denounced Mubarak's government, saying it had turned Egypt into a base to supply the crusader war on Muslims and Islam. He denounced Egypt's sealing of its border with Gaza after the takeover of the Palestinian territory by the militant group Hamas and Cairo's support for Abbas' West Bank-based government. He called on Bedouin living in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on the border with Gaza and Israel to rise up against Mubarak, who he said "wants to turn you into subjects in the Israeli obscene trade in Sinai resorts" - a reference to the Red Sea beach resorts frequented by Israeli tourists. From 2004-2006, a series of terror bombings hit Egyptian resorts in the Sinai, killing 121 people, including many tourists. Egyptian authorities have blamed the attacks on Islamic militants among Sinai's Bedouin, though some Israeli and Western officials have warned that al-Qaida may have had a role. Al-Zawahri also called on the Egyptian military not to be assistants to the crusaders and Jews in imposing siege on your brothers and to let the needs of your brothers in Palestine pass into Gaza. For much of the tape, al-Zawahri also denounced a onetime top Islamic militant ideologue who, after years in an Egyptian prison, has published a treatise known as the revisions, renouncing militant violence. The jailed ideologue, Sayed Imam, was once a top leader in Egypt's Islamic Jihad group and an associated of al-Zawahri. Imam's writings in the 1980s laying an Islamic law basis for violent action against infidel regimes were highly influential among al-Qaida militants. But his revisions, published the last month, argue that such violence is banned under Islamic law. "Those revisionists are in fact calling for a new American religion that violates God's rules," al-Zawahri said. The message was the 15th tape or video released by al-Zawahri this year, following a Nov. 3 audiotape in which he denounced Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and announced that a militant group in Libya was joining ranks with al-Qaida. Al-Zawahri - seen by many counterterrorism experts to be al-Qaida's operational chief, rather than bin Laden - is believed to play a large role in directing al-Qaida's strategy on the ground and issues frequent videos an audiotapes, often laying out the network's doctrinal line. Related articles: Al-Qaida commander criticizes Hamas for abandoning Jihad Abbas: Hamas supporting al-Qaida in Gaza, Fatah will not negotiate Pakistan rejects U.S. spy chief's charge it harbors Qaida leaders Hamas urges PA to boycott Israel talks in wake of IDF Gaza raid Olmert vows to 'forge historic path' toward peace with Palestinians Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as a 'Jewish state' Bookmark to del.icio.us Divisible capital No commandment says J'lem must be under Jewish rule. No permission granted Should U.S. Jews have a say in shaping Israel's policies?   1.   This wannabe Arab egyptian, obessed with the 05:03  |  cristo 15/12/07   2.   Has Al-Zawahri been paying attention? 05:18  |  Awake 15/12/07   3.   Israel needs to CRUSH ALL in GAZA 05:41  |  PETER SM 15/12/07   4.   al-zawahri speaks the hidden truth 06:27  |  CK Tan 15/12/07   5.   Israel must wake up.. 06:53  |  Akram Zekaria 15/12/07   6.   He`s not your friend 07:01  |  Ricardo 15/12/07   7.   Only a fool thinks Al-queda and Hamas are not the same. 09:22  |  Voice of Reason 15/12/07   8.   the lunatics keep running the asylum 09:23  |  victor hardman 15/12/07   9.   A rose by any other name is still a rose 13:17  |  Nechama 15/12/07   10.   To Al-Zawahiri 13:49  |  Yosemite 15/12/07   11.   #4 CK-Tan 16:04  |  Sarah 15/12/07   12.   Al Zawahri 16:14  |  Andaluz 15/12/07   13.   Siamese twins alas.... 18:41  |  Esther 15/12/07   14.   Al-Qaida and Hamas speak with the same voice 19:45  |  Gina 15/12/07   15.   Al Zawahri also mentioned the return of Spain. 23:57  |  Stephen. 15/12/07   16.   AL-QAIDA 01:28  |  tom 16/12/07   17.   Memo from Mohammed 02:27  |  Allah 16/12/07

Today Online Israel, U.S. to discuss their differering assessments on Iran Responses: 301 Ruth Meisels: No commandment says Jews must rule J'lem Responses: 371 Qassam hits Negev factory; gov't declares 'special situation' Responses: 203 Yoel Marcus: There are no Israeli politicians to rely on Responses: 81 Rosner: Should U.S. Jews have voice in shaping Israel policy? Responses: 64 Rosner's Domain So, Should American Jews have a voice in shaping Israel's policies? Who believes in intelligence reports? American Jews are losing interest in Israel Guest: U.S public doesn't think there is need for or a point to creating a Palestinian state More Headlines 03:00 At rally, Hamas vows never to recognize Israel 03:07 ANALYSIS: Despite troubles, Hamas is toeing the radical line 02:22 Meretz Chairman Beilin said set to quit party leadership race 02:25 Study: Delay in resettling Gaza evacuees cost state $1 billion 01:57 Was Hollywood's most famous censor an anti-Semite or not? 19:13 Azerbaijan: 15 convicted of treason gave Iran information on Israel 19:07 Seven people lightly injured in riot at Galilee soccer match 16:32 Report: Germany expelled Iran diplomat who sought nuke parts 22:53 Livni to try to prevent Quartet condemnation of East Jerusalem construction 02:02 Ch. 10 to air sting that netted several pedophiles on Sunday Previous Editions Select Day 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec

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