In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un. From Allah We Come And Unto Him We Shall Return.

 

For Immediate Release

In the same week that President Bush unilaterally endorsed the daylight robbery of yet more Palestinian land by the Israelis, the Israeli terrorist squad was sent to assassinate another Palestinian leader, Dr Abdelaziz al-Rantissi. The shameful endorsement by U.S. President Bush of Ariel Sharon’s terrorist plan to annex more than half of the West Bank and deny the Palestinians their right to return to their homeland is the worst form of legitimizing imperialism and terrorism.

The assassination, less than a month after the murder of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas, makes it clear that Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, has a ruthless strategy of destroying the leadership of the Palestinian people in order to sabotage any moves towards self-determination and human rights for the people of this oppressed nation. But it is a strategy doomed to failure. The people of Palestine will not be intimidated by such brutal acts of state terrorism into abandoning their struggle against Israeli oppression. Nor will they tolerate the cynical view expressed by Sharon’s ally, President George Bush, that the USA government now accepts Israel’s right to parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. His statement only confirms that Bush has never been an honest peace broker nor serious in wanting a settlement that recognizes the national and political rights of the Palestinian nation. Also, the increasing terror activities by Israel were a big slap on the face of the United Nations while an evidence of the U.S. overbearing. Israeli activities have become a threat for the global peace and its renewed confidence as typified by the new spate of extra-judicial assassinations is the immediate fruit of the deal reached between Bush and Sharon behind close doors. It should be remembered that the latest martyr, 56-year-old Rantissi, survived an Israeli assassination attempt last June, suffering leg, arm and chest wounds in a missile attack on his car in central Gaza City. 

Ariel Sharon’s grotesque killing of leaders of Palestinian occupation groups is a crude replay of his tactics as colonial-style military governor of Gaza in the early 1970s and the hallmark of his military and political career. He still believes that killing Palestinians can pacify the Gaza strip for another generation. We are however certain that the Israelis will not succeed in their attempt to enact their own ‘final solution’ against the occupied Palestinian people with their continued defiance of international legality. It is only a matter of time, God Willing, before the Israeli killing machine is brought to a halt by the forces of justice. As always we offer our condolences to the family of Dr Rantissi and the long-suffering Palestinian nation. We call upon all supporters of justice and freedom to come to their aid with practical programmes designed to end Israel’s illegal occupation of their land.

“All that is on Earth will perish: But will abide (forever) the Face of thy Lord, – full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour.” (Q55:26-27)

“And do not say of those killed in the way of Allah that they are dead. No, they are living, only you perceive not.” (2:154 )

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Contact:
Disu Kamor
Director of Media & Communications
Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC
e-mail: kamor.disu@mpac-ng.org
website: www.mpac-ng.org