Once again we see a “Palestinian” spokesman speak of the conflict with Israel in Islamic terms, the one aspect of it that foreign policy analysts routinely ignore.
“Abbas’ Advisor: Arab participation in Jerusalem municipal elections is ‘betrayal of Allah’ and ‘a crime,’” by Nan Jacques Zilberdik, Palestinian Media Watch, June 30, 2023:
The Jerusalem municipal elections are scheduled for October 31, 2023, but the PA is already warning Arab residents of Jerusalem against participating as candidates or as voters. In fact, the Palestinian Supreme Fatwa Council has issued a fatwa – an Islamic religious ruling – prohibiting participation in the elections, stating that it “constitutes a violation of religious law”:
Headline: “The [Palestinian Supreme] Fatwa Council bans participating in the elections of the occupation’s municipality in Jerusalem,both as candidates and as voters”
“The Palestinian Supreme Fatwa Council confirmed the fatwa (i.e., Islamic religious ruling) that it issued, which bans participating or running in the elections for the occupation’s municipality in Jerusalem. It explained that this constitutes a violation of religious law and of the national consensus.”
[WAFA, official PA news agency, June 15, 2023]
PA Supreme Shari’ah Judge and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash stressed that any participation in the elections “constitutes a betrayal of Allah,” as well as of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, “the blood of the Martyrs, and the sacrifice of the Jihad fighters”:
“Al-Habbash expressed appreciation for the fatwa issued by the Palestinian [Supreme] Fatwa Council, which defined participation in these elections as a crime, because it constitutes a violation of the national position and recognition of the occupation’s legitimacy. He emphasized that this also constitutes a betrayal of Allah and His Messenger [Muhammad], the blood of the Martyrs, and the sacrifice of the Jihad fighters carrying out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict over land claimed to be Islamic).”
[Ma’an, independent Palestinian news agency, June 20, 2023]
Abbas’ advisor’s words that participating in the elections constitutes “recognition of the occupation’s (i.e., Israel’s) legitimacy,” is consistent with the PA/Fatah’s denial of Israel’s right to exist: “Israel’s very existence contradicts international law.” [Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Oct. 10, 2022]
Al-Habbash also stated that anyone who takes part in the elections “will lose his national identity and his Palestinian affiliation.”…
Wellington says
Note to Abbas’ adviser: There is no Allah. If there is, may Allah strike me dead tonight to demonstrate that this Cosmic Jerk actually exists.
N.B., Allah’s deluded followers doing so will not count. No, it must be Allah.
Be back tomorrow—and the next day and the day after that. This you can count on. Screw Allah.
Shema says
I agree with Mr Habbash. They should refuse to participate in elections. It’s their, as well as everybody else’s right to not vote for any reason whatsoever.