Scholars urge Muslims to give aid

Doha: A gathering of prominent Islamic scholars urged Muslims all over the world here on Thursday to provide financial aid to the Palestinian National Authority and hold protest rallies to force their governments and the banks to break the financial siege on the Hamas-led government.

In a nine-point declaration issued at the end of two-day meeting, the clerics led by Yousuf Al Qaradawi also called on Muslim countries to cease efforts to develop relations with Israel, adding that Palestinians had the right to wage jihad to free their homeland from Israeli occupation.

"It is the duty of every Muslim in the world to do whatever is possible individually or collectively to provide financial, moral and other support to their Palestinian brethren," the declaration said.

"Jihad is the birth right of the Palestinians and they should not stop their struggle until they have recovered their land which is under occupation."

The declaration called on Palestinian factions to preserve unity and fight collectively for their right. Leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine attending the meeting committed to work with Fatah party to recompose the national front, although the latter boycotted the meeting.

Scholars said the Palestinian issue must be turned into an Arab and Islamic cause. As American pressure continued on Arab banks not to transfer funds to the government, the clerics warned they could launch a boycott asking Muslims to close their accounts and move them into Islamic banks.