© Ammar Awad / ReutersA Palestinian argues with an Israeli border police officer during scuffles that erupted after Palestinians held prayers just outside Jerusalem's Old City in protest over the installation of metal detectors placed at an entrance to the Old City's compound July 17, 2017
A Californian imam called on Allah to "annihilate" Jews "down to the very last one," urging for the Al-Aqsa mosque in Temple Mount in Jerusalem to be freed from their "filth." His comments came amid violence at the holy site between Israeli police and Palestinians.
Sheikh Ammar Shahin delivered his Friday sermon at the Islamic Center of Davis, where he serves as imam, some 20km from Sacramento, the capital of California, according to a
statement from the center.
In the
video, the imam called on Allah to "liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque from the filth of the Jews" and to "destroy those who closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Shahin's hour-long speech in both English and Arabic was mostly dedicated to the dispute over the Jerusalem holy site. Israeli authorities earlier limited access to the compound housing the Al-Aqsa, one of Islam's holiest sites.
The move sparked protests in Jerusalem and across the West Bank which repeatedly turned violent.
Comment: The funny thing about religious fanatics is that they're all the same. All things being equal, Muslim nutjobs like this guy would get along great with the Jewish nutjob settlers in the West Bank. They're both brainwashed, irrational fanatics. But turn these crazies against each other and you have a recipe for an endless confrontation. And that suits some people just fine.
In the meantime, how about we let the adults on both sides speak for a change? We just have to find them first.
Update (July 31): Imam Ammar Shahin did the adult thing and
apologized for his remarks, though after insisting his words were taken out of context (MEMRI is notorious for that). His apology was accepted by a local rabbi:
"To the Jewish community here in Davis and beyond, I say this deeply-I am deeply sorry for the pain I have caused," said Ammar Shahin.
...
Last week, Shahin gave a fiery sermon that translators say called for his higher power to annihilate Jews, and asked his congregants to take part in the slaughter.
He initially, said he was taken out of context, a point he repeated, a day later in an on camera interview with CBS13.
But that changed on Friday.
"I let my emotions get the best of me and cloud my better judgment. I said things that were hurtful to Jews. This was unacceptable," he said.
"I deeply appreciate and accept your words of apology thank you," a local Rabbi told him.
The olive branch didn't come easy. Local political and Jewish leaders joined the Council on American Islamic Relations, condemning the speech.
"Ugly words were spoken," said Yolo County Supervisor Don Sailor.
"No matter what the context was, it came out as hate speech," said CAIR Director Basim Elkarra.
Comment: See also: Online suicide game "Blue Whale Challenge" spreads to France