Sheikh: All must convert to Islam

Under this misleading headline Ynet published an article that may contain the answer to the question that bothers many a thinker these days: why cannot Muslim world accept the unending series of apologies from the Pope?

It is true that Sheikh Abu Saqer (a prominent Gaza Strip preacher and leader of Gaza’s Jihadia Salafiya Islamic outreach movement) said that “the only Christian-Muslim dialogue that is acceptable is one in which all religions agree to convert to Islam.” However, this is not a surprise, after all many other Muslim religious clerics already expressed this opinion, no matter how self-contradictory and stupid it may sound.

But if you read carefully the assorted quotes from Abu Saqer’s speech, one peculiar note could not fail to be noticed: the frequent reference to the Pope’s size. See here:

• little racist pope
• small racist
• this dwarf pope

This clearly shows that our Sheikh has trouble accepting the Pope’s dimensions. He probably expects a much greater size from a religious leader and is disappointed by the current physical manifestation of the pontiff.

We do not know the height or, come to think of it, the weight of the Pope, never considering that there might be a link between girth (to take one dimension) of the pontiff and respect the said pontiff gains with followers of other religions.

Maybe a new approach to selection of the Pope is indicated?

Cross-posted on SimplyJews

So, let’s see if we can parse this article.

2 People Killed By Israeli Army in Gaza

Ohmigod! The IDF killed two people for no reason?

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday, the army and Palestinian security officials said.

The attack occurred in a field near the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, which is often used as a base for rocket attacks on Israel.

Wait a minute. They were killed in a field used for rocket attacks? Really? Does that mean they were trying to launch rockets at Israel?

Palestinian security officials said the two people were killed when the Israeli army conducted an airstrike on a car.

Um, hello, AP, were they trying to launch rockets at Israel?

However, the Israeli army said it was not an airstrike, but a group of soldiers who hit two Palestinians who had come to the area to collect launchers used to fire rockets over the past week.

Oh, they were coming to collect rocket launchers. So, um, does that mean they were the people who launched them in the first place? Or connected to them?

Ya think?

Once again, take note of the usual AP style: Never identify the dead palestinians as terrorists, or possible terrorists. Never use a name or even the word “spokesman” for the Israeli army. Always use the impersonal “the israeli army said.” Always rely on palestinian eyewitnesses or “officials” for the facts. And never, ever mention that the kassam rockets that are launched almost daily into Israel from Gaza cause injuries and deaths without using the caveats of “homemade” or “crude rockets.”

According to the AP, Hassan Nasrallah, the chipmunk-cheeked fat slug that leads Hezbullah, is under the world’s protection—so the IDF is backing off its plans to assassinate him. Why? Because world opinion would be against Israel for killing the man who cause the latest war in Lebanon?

Not exactly.

JERUSALEM Sep 29, 2006 (AP)— Israel has quietly backed off its plan to assassinate Hezbollah’s leader because of the international condemnation that his killing would create, the Israeli daily Maariv reported Friday.

During the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended Aug. 14, Israel had targeted Hassan Nasrallah for assassination, security officials said, according to Maariv.

Nasrallah went underground, though he repeatedly recorded videos from his hiding place that were broadcast on Lebanese television.

When the war ended, the army recommended that the efforts to kill Nasrallah be called off because his assassination would lead to international criticism of Israel and would ignite an even more violent war, Maariv reported.

However, the government declined to call off the hunt, the newspaper reported.

That sure makes you think that Israel is not going to kill Nasrallah, ever, doesn’t it? But read on.

Nasrallah emerged from hiding on Sept. 22 to address a massive rally in Lebanon celebrating Hezbollah’s fight against Israel. Israel army officials determined they could assassinate him with an airstrike during the rally, but dozens of bystanders also would be killed, Maariv reported.

The government decided an airstrike was not worth the risk, and accepted the army’s recommendation that it should abandon efforts to kill Nasrallah for the time being, the newspaper reported. However, the government did not make a formal decision regarding Nasrallah.

I said somewhere that it took zero courage for that fat rat to show his face for the rally. And that Israel wouldn’t launch missiles at him because they woudl inevitably kill “innocent bystanders” (all of whom are attending a rally celebrating Hezblullah’s “victory” over Israel, but that part never seems to matter, or mean that they’re, you know, “enemies”). But this is the part that I wonder about:

Israeli government spokesman Miri Eisin declined to confirm whether Nasrallah had been a target or if he no longer was being pursued.

I think our buddy Nasrallah needs to watch his back. Don’t go visiting your friends, fatso, because the IDF is still watching you.