• Al-Taqiya by Prof Walid Phares
• IDF Bars Jews From Holy Places? by Aaron Lerner
• Hebcom Human Rights Bulletin Update, 5th November, 1997
• Did Arafat Ask Terror Groups To Attack Israel? Beirut Weekly Newspaper A-Shira'
• A Special Request for Jewish-Palestinian Reconciliation Information by Libby & Len Traubman and Nahida & Adham Salem

In the early years of the Tawheed (Islamic conquest of the Arabian peninsula) and in the Fatah (Arab-Islamic invasion and conquest of the upper Middle East and the outside world), a Muslim concept was devised to achieve success against the enemy, Al-Taqiya.

Al-Taqiya, from the verb Ittaqu, means linguistically dodge the threat. Politically it means simulate whatever status you need in order to win the war against the enemy.

According to Al-Taqiya, Muslims were granted the Shar'iya (legitimacy) to infiltrate the Dar el-Harb (war zone), infiltrate the enemy's cities and forums and plant the seeds of discord and sedition. These agents were acting on behalf of the Muslim authority at war, and therefore were not considered as lying or denouncing the tenants of Islam. THey were "legitimate" mujahedeen, whose mission was to undermine the enemy's resistance and level of mobilization. One of their major objectives was to cause a split among the enemy's camp. In many instances, they convinced their targeted audiences that JIhad is not aimed at them, that indigenous people are not targeted, only Bysantium power. They convinced many Jews that they will be protected from Christians, called pagans), and they convinced many Christians that Jews were the mortal enemies, because they killed Issa (Jesus). THey convinced the Aramaics, Copts, and Hebrews that the enemy is Greece, and signed peace agreements with the Bysantines Greeks at the expense of Maronite Aramaics, etc.

This Jihadic agency of subversion was one of the most fascinating and efficient arms of the conquest. In less them four decades the MIddle East fell to the Arab-Islamic rule, followed by north Africa and Central Asia. Al-Taqiya was a formidable weapon, used by the first dynasties and strategists. Today, scholars may identify it as deception. But the JIhadic deception was and still is more powerful than the James Bondian methods of Western classical intelligence tactics, for the simple reason that it has a civilizational, global dimension versus the narrow state interest of the regular Western subversive methods.

Al-Taqiya is still in use today but not necessarily state-organized. One can easily detect Taqiya in the two discourses used by Islamist strategists. On the one hand, one comprehensive Islamist theory is attempting to mobilize Middle East, and sometimes Western Christia leaders and intellectuals, against "evil Jews." We see considerable success on that level. And on the other hand, another Islamist comprehensive theory is attemting -with success also- to mobilize the Jews against "evil and pagan Christians." One can easily detect the sophisticated work of Taqiya, for the strategic objective of Islamists is to destroy the foundations of the Judeo-Christian civilization, as a prelude to the defeat of an isolated Israel.

Taqiya is not a unique phenomenon in History, many strategists from all backgrounds implemented subversion. But the uniqueness of today's Taqiya is its success within advanced and sophisticated societies. Taqiya is winning massively because of the immense lack of knowledge among Western elites, both Jewish and Christian.

For interesting examples of Taqiya methods, visit Christian discussion groups and forums and note the discourse of Islamist visitors, aimed at undermining the Christian perception of Jews, and visit Jewish discussion groups and forums and note the subtle anti-Christian discourse of Islamists visitors. It is really informative and fascinating.

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The Hamodia reported on November 5, 1997 that the IDF effectively bars Jews from visiting a number of sites in the West Bank which Jews are guaranteed free access to under Article 32 of Appendix I of the Interim Agreement.

Among the locations listed in the article are the tombs of Natan the Prophet and Gad the Seer in Halhul, the Cave of Othniel ben Knaz in Hebron, and the site of Elazar's Tomb, Ittamar's Tomb and the Tomb of the 70 Elders in Awarta.

The article claims that while the IDF says the locations can be visited as long as the visitors coordinate with the IDF and get permission, such permission is never granted for "security reasons".

The IDF Spokesman's Office confirmed that, while in principle, there is access to these places, security restrictions may prevent them from being open to the public.

The Spokesman's Office declined to comment if the IDF does not have the technical capability to provide security in the locations or if, instead, it is a question of priorities.

The Office also declined to estimate what resources would be required to make the sites secure enough to allow for free access for visitors.

Dr. Aaron Lerner,
Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
P.O.BOX 982 Kfar Sava
Tel: (+972-9) 760-4719
Fax: (+972-9) 741-1645
imra@netvision.net.il

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Background

On 2nd July, the Palestinian Preventative Security Service (PSS) arrested Dr. Fathi Ahmed Subuh, professor at the Department of Education at al Azhar University in Gaza, for asking several critical questions on a final exam.

Dr. Subuh at Tel il Howa. He was tortured and interrogated. During the three days that he was submitted to torture he was asked questions about his ties to Israeli and International Peace Groups.

Dr. Subuh has never been charged with any crime. He has not been arrested, merely detained.

As a result of international pressure he was taken from Colonel Mohamad Deklans' interrogation center and transferred to the main holding center in the Police Head Quarters in Gaza City.

He will be released only by a direct administrative order from President Arafat personally

Update

Earlier this week Doctor Sabuh was taken from his cell in the Police detention center and rushed to Shifa Hospital in Gaza. He remained delirious with a high fever for over 20 hours. Hebcom's human rights investigator, who managed to visit Doctor Sabuh in the recovery ward, reported that the doctor had lost over 10 kilograms of weight. He is now recovering from this episode and, when his doctors find him fit enough, will be returned to his detention cell.

Action: Requested Action

Fax President Yassir Arafat: (972) (7) 822365/6
Fax Justice Minister Freih Abu Medein (972) (7) 822365/6

E-Mail Palestine National Authority: info@nmopic.pna.net
E-Mail PLO/United Nations: palestinun@aol.com

Demand that Dr. Subuh be immediately released or charged and given a prompt trial.

Fax or write Dr. Subuh at Shifa Hospital, Gaza, in care of the above addresses.

Do not let this man be forgotton

Hebcom Middle East Bureau
Analysis, Commentary, Information
"Insight into the Middle East by the People who live there"

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"Yassir Arafat has asked some Palestinian organizations to carry out fedayeen operations against Israel but the leaders of these organizations replied: We do not wish to place the blood of our martyrs at the service of an authority that will sell us out at the first opportunity ... When 'Arafat asked what makes them think he will sell them out, they answered: Abu-'Ammar [Yasir 'Arafat], you will be the first person to arrest our leaders in the West Bank and Gaza in order to be able to tell the Jews: These are the people who are fighting you. The leaders continued: After you release them, our heroes will become easy targets for pursuit by the Zionist security agencies. We will not hand over this opportunity to you or to them. If you want to fight Israel, you have thousands of troops, employees, and security personnel whom you can use."

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Dear Friends of Jewish-Palestinian Reconciliation,

We ask you to send us a List of People and Institutions you believe should be mailed a copy of the 24-page "Evening Program and Reconciliation Resource" we are printing for our November 15th San Francisco dinner for 400 Jewish and Palestinian Americans, and others, with Ambassador Dennis Ross, to begin changing the nature of our relationships and invigorating the public peace process.

The Illustrated Booklet has instructional pages on listening, dialogue, and conflict resolution, with inspirational quotes and passages. It has examples of citizen-initiated, grassroots projects that are already bringing Palestinians and Israelis together in dialogue and cooperation. The "Evening Program" portion shows the flow of our dinner event, so people can consider doing on their own communities. The booklet is in English, with just a few passages in Hebrew and Arabic.

Please e-mail to us a list of people and institutions that you believe should receive by mail a copy of this booklet, with their mailing addresses and other contact information. Make the list as long as you wish, but give us an idea of your priorities. We have raised funds for this first mailing, so there will be no charge to the recipients.

That is the most useful thing you can do for us right now. We would greatly appreciate you giving some thought to this project. Your help would mean a lot to us.

Libby and Len Traubman
Nahida and Adham Salem
for our Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group

Libby and Len Traubman
1448 Cedarwood Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403
Phone: (650) 574-8303
Fax: (650) 573-1217
E-mail: LTRAUBMAN@igc.org
Web: http://www.igc.org/traubman

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

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