Recently, the Palestinian Authority's Mufti, Muhammad Hussein, spoke at an event celebrating the 47th anniversary of the founding of Fatah. The Mufti, the Palestinian Authority’s highest religious leader, is appointed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also the Chairman of Fatah.
The Mufti voiced this latest instance of hate speech, which calls for killing all the Jews, at an official Fatah celebration. Moreover, the Mufti did not distance himself from a statement made by the moderator who introduced him, which called the war with the Jews a religious war.
PM Netanyahu (23 January 2012): "A few days ago we heard very serious remarks by the Palestinian Mufti in Jerusalem. These remarks are especially serious both because they remind us of the statements of another mufti who called for the annihilation of the Jews, Haj Amin Al-Husseini, who was one of the architects of the Final Solution, and because they are being uttered today by people who are supposed to support the building of peace between us and our Palestinian neighbors.
The call to murder Jews simply because they are Jews is a terrible thing from an ethical point of view and is an obstacle to peace. Incitement in general is an obstacle to peace. What is especially serious is that as of today, not only has the Palestinian Authority neither condemned nor taken exception to the remarks, it enabled them to be broadcast on official Palestinian television. I expect senior PA officials to condemn this act. Those who want peace should not allow such incitement and calls to murder Jews."
Following is a transcript of the event, excerpted from PA TV (Fatah) by Palestinian Media Watch, 9 January 2012:
Moderator at Fatah ceremony:
"Our war with the descendants of the apes and pigs (i.e., the Jews) is a war of religion and faith.”
"Long Live Fatah! [I invite you,] our honorable Sheikh."
PA Mufti Muhammad Hussein:
"47 years ago the [Fatah] revolution started. Which revolution? The modern revolution of the Palestinian people's history. In fact, Palestine in its entirety is a revolution, since [Caliph] Umar came [to conquer Jerusalem in 637 CE], and continuing today, and until the End of Days.
The reliable Hadith (tradition attributed to Muhammad), [found] in the two reliable collections, Bukhari and Muslim, says:
The Hour [of Resurrection] will not come until you fight the Jews.
The Jew will hide behind stones or trees.
Then the stones or trees will call:
'Oh Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.'
Except the Gharqad tree [which will keep silent].
Therefore it is no wonder that you see Gharqad [trees] surrounding the [Israeli] settlements and colonies..."