At Fatah Event, Palestinian Cleric Recites Sermon Calling For Killing Jews

The Israel-based media watchdog Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reported last week that at a recent event celebrating the founding of Fatah — the political party ruling the Palestinian Authority — a top religious leader, the Mufti Muhammad Hussein, recited an incendiary passage from Muslim scripture that calls for the killing of Jews:

“The hour of judgment 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.’”

PMW has video of the event:

That wasn’t the only disturbing and offensive language used at the event. A man introducing the mufti referred to Jews as “apes and pigs”: “Our war with the descendants of the apes and pigs is a war of religion and faith. Long live Fatah!”

The Israeli government condemned Hussein’s sermon. “This is a very serious offence that all the countries of the world must condemn,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hussein told Reuters: “There is nothing in my speech that calls for killing,” adding, “I was speaking about my people, its steadfastness and its existence in this land until the hour (of resurrection).”

Netanyahu has asked for an investigation. However, the AP notes that “it is unclear what authority Israel would have since Hussein is appointed to his position by the Palestinian president. There was no immediate comment from Abbas’ office.”