A senior Sunni cleric in Lebanon has called on all Muslims to wage jihad, or holy war, in support of the Palestinians after the US decision to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, the former top Sunni religious authority, or mufti, in Lebanon, also said it is not sanctioned religiously for the Palestinians or any Arab or Muslim country to “surrender, reconcile or make peace deals or give up any inch” of historic Palestine.
Saad Hariri, center, and Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, right, arrive at Friday’s first prayer in Mohammed al-Amin Mosque in Downtown Beirut, Lebanon on October 17, 2008. (AP/Bilal Hussein)
Kabbani, who still has clout in the community, also said it is not acceptable for them to “recognize so-called Israel.”
Kabbani’s comments appear to be a jab at US plans for a peace deal. They are reportedly supported by Saudi Arabia, which has used its control of holy sites in Mecca and Medina to brand itself the protector of Islam around the world, and which has special clout among Sunnis.
— AP
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