Here are just some of the headlines we’ll be following and commenting on in the New Year.
Islamist terrorism: What we know so far about the two professionally executed terrorist attacks in Paris against the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher store is that they were long planned operations ordered by al-Qaida’s leader Ayman Al- Zawahiri and conducted by French based “sleeper cell” of AQAP – Yemen based al-Qaida in the Arab Peninsula. Here are translated recent Tweets by Bakhsaruf al-Danqulah – a senior AQAP leader active on Twitter (courtesy of Gloria Center):
1. Many followers are asking about
the link between al-Qa’ida and those who carried out the Charlie Hebdo attack.
The link is direct and the operation was supervised by AQAP.
2. The operation was directed by
AQAP’s leadership. And they chose these targets out of desire to avenge the
insult to the Holy Prophet.
3. And in France in particular for
its undisguised role in the war on Islam and oppressed peoples.
4. The operation is an
implementation of the threat of Sheikh Osama bin Laden in which he warned the
West of the consequence in the long run of affront to the sanctities of
Muslims.
5. He said in his message to the West:
“If there is no limit to your freedom of speech, your chests will become
broadened targets for our actions.”
6. The organization delayed
implementation of the operation for security reasons dependent on the
operatives. And the operation has a number of messages for all Western states.
7. Infringing on Islam’s sanctities
and protecting those who mock them will bear a very heavy price. And the
consequence will be severe and terrible.
8. The crimes of the Western states-
especially America, Britain and France- will be turned on their heads within
their abodes.
9. The policy of striking the far
enemy which has remained for al-Qa’ida under Zawahiri’s leadership will
continue in the realization of its aims, until the West falls back on itself.
10. The policy of the mujahideen of
al-Qa’ida’s media incitement, especially Inspire magazine, has produced
splendid results in the defining of its aims and marshalling potential.
11. For one of the authors put his
name and photo [i.e. that of the editor of Charlie Hebdo] as a dead or alive
target for the mujahideen, so the Western states should expect evil
consequences and ruins by God’s power.
Al- Danqulah concludes with a call
for people to disseminate and translate his tweets. The threat is clear and
unequivocal.
According to most analysts, 2015 could
easily become the Year of Islamist Worldwide Terrorism – coming soon to a
public place near you…
Rallies, marches, demonstrations and
speeches will not stop them.
But we should pay careful attention
to the courageous speech that Egyptian president Abdul-Fatah al-Sisi gave last
month front of leading Islamic clerics and scholars at the sacred Al-Azhar
University in Cairo. It may get him assassinated, but if other Moslem leaders follow
his lead, it could be a start to a completely different future. Click here for a short
clip with English subtitles.
Israel Elections (March 17): Netanyahu won the Likud primaries but lost several key players. Tzippi Livne joined forces with the labor Party to form a combined list, which most current polls show is running head to head with Bibi’s Likud. Another centrist party, formed by former Likud member of Knesset Moshe Kahalon, is gaining steam by recruiting topsecurity experts to its list, and it looks like the Sephardic orthodox party, Shas, is regrouping.
Right now there is a plausible chance that with successful coalition negotiations after the March 17 elections…Yitzhak Herzog could be the next Israeli prime minister. But a lot can happen in the interim.
We’ll stay tuned and keep you informed.
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