DUBAI (Agencies)
Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, in an audio tape on Friday, vowed to continue the fight against Israel and its allies, saying Muslims will not give up "one inch of Palestine".
“We will continue, God permitting, the fight against the Israelis and their allies ... and will not give up a single inch of Palestine as long as there is one true Muslim on earth," al-Qaeda leader said in the tape posted on an Islamist website on Friday.
Bin Laden also slammed Western leaders for taking part in Israel's 60th birthday.
"The participation of Western leaders with the Jews in this celebration confirms that the West supports this ugly Jewish occupation of our lands and that they stand in the Israelis' trench against us," Bin Laden said in the "message to Western peoples" posted on the Internet.
The world’s most wanted man said the fight for the Palestinian cause is the most important factor driving al-Qaeda's war with the West and fueled the September 11 attacks.
Friday's message comes as U.S. President George W. Bush wrapped up his visit to Israel and headed to Saudi Arabia.
The message, which lasted nearly 10 minutes, was titled "A message from Sheikh Osama bin Laden to Western peoples: the causes of the conflict on the 60th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israeli occupation."
"Jihad (holy war) is a duty to liberate Palestine," said bin Laden.
The authenticity of the message could not be independently verified, but the voice appeared to be that of al-Qaeda chief, who has taken credit for the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
It was accompanied by an image of a white turbaned bin Laden. Bin Laden last issued a message on March 20, urging Muslims to support the insurgency in Iraq as the best way to help the Palestinians, and accusing Arab leaders of backing Israeli attacks on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
In the latest message, bin Laden again blasted the "Gaza massacre." |
