Region | Palestinian Territories

New Bin Laden message focuses on Palestinian issue

Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden will address the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding in a web message, US-based internet monitors said.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 08:41 May 16, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • In a message on March 20, Osama Bin Laden urged Muslims to maintain the struggle against US forces in Iraq as a path toward "liberating Palestine."
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Washington: Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden Osama Bin Laden vowed in a new audio message to continue the fight against Israel and not give up an inch of Palestinian land.

In his latest message posted on an Islamist website on Friday, Bin Laden also said that the jihad (holy war) was a duty to liberate Palestinians.

"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," Bin Laden said.

The authenticity of the tape could not immediately be verified.

Al Qaida has vowed attacks on Jews both within and outside Israel, and regularly expressed support for the Palestinians.

Analyst Laura Mansfield said "Bin Laden seems to be shifting gears," over the last decade.

"In his initial messages, Bin Laden's focus was on the removal of US forces from (Saudi Arabia) but in recent years he has more closely wedded himself to the Palestinian issue," Mansfield said.

In a message on March 20, Bin Laden urged Muslims to maintain the struggle against US forces in Iraq as a path toward "liberating Palestine."

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