Al-Qaeda's No. 2 hailed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a videotape broadcast Friday. Ayman al-Zawahri focused on political developments in the Palestinian territories, Sudan and Egypt in the tape aired by the Al-Jazeera network. It mentions a national referendum proposed on May 25 by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
An Al-Jazeera anchorman said the tape was made before al-Zarqawi's death was announced Thursday because al-Zawahri praised his efforts to confront U.S.-led forces in Iraq. "God bless the prophet of Islam in Iraq, the persistent hero of Islam, the Holy Warrior Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," al-Zawahri said.
He also sent greetings to the Shura Council of Mujahedeen in Iraq and fighters, "who are confronting crusaders and their apostate aides and the merchants of religion."
The al-Qaeda deputy leader criticized a proposed national referendum in the Palestinian territories on establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel, giving recognition to the Jewish state. "I call on Muslims to reject any referendum on Palestine, because Palestine is part of the Islamic world and not subject to any compromise. I call upon Muslims everywhere to support the brothers in Palestine," he said.
Al-Zawahri also lashed out at the United States and Israel, accusing them of trying to make the Palestinian people "kneel down and to give up to the supreme powers that are trying to impose the Israeli entity on the lands of Islam through the military occupation and the betrayal of the Arab leaders."
He also criticized Arab leaders for not providing financial support for the Palestinian people, blaming President Bush for Western countries' decisions to freeze aid to the Palestinians after the election of Hamas. "The Arab leaders didn't have the courage ... to meet the Palestinians' needs for one month because the Caesar of Washington gave orders to make the Palestinians starve by besieging them," he said.
