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'Bin Laden' in Palestinian call 'Bin Laden' in Palestinian call
(about 11 hours later)
A new audio message purportedly from al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden urges Palestinian militants to join the insurgency in Iraq. A new audio message purportedly from Osama Bin Laden has urged Muslims to join the insurgency in Iraq as the best way to support the Palestinians.
"The nearest jihad battlefield to support our people in Palestine is the battlefield of Iraq," the speaker said. The message, aired on al-Jazeera TV, comes a day after Bin Laden threatened the EU over the reprint of a cartoon deemed offensive to Muslims. "The nearest jihad battlefield to support our people in Palestine is the battlefield of Iraq," the speaker said.
The message, aired on al-Jazeera TV, comes a day after the al-Qaeda leader threatened the EU over the reprint of a cartoon deemed offensive to Muslims.
The messages coincide with the fifth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq.The messages coincide with the fifth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq.
BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson says they follow a familiar pattern, with Bin Laden touching on an issue he knows resonates with many MuslimsBBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson says they follow a familiar pattern, with Bin Laden touching on an issue he knows resonates with many Muslims
'Fire and iron''Fire and iron'
In the second message, the speaker dismissed attempts at reconciliation in the Middle East. In the second message in two days, the speaker dismissed attempts at reconciliation in the Middle East.
"Palestine cannot be retaken by negotiations and dialogue, but with fire and iron," he said."Palestine cannot be retaken by negotiations and dialogue, but with fire and iron," he said.
The speaker said Arab leaders were accomplices in Israeli attacks on Gaza.The speaker said Arab leaders were accomplices in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
"The people of the blessed land should sense the great favour God has bestowed upon them and do what they should do to support their mujahideen brothers in Iraq," he said."The people of the blessed land should sense the great favour God has bestowed upon them and do what they should do to support their mujahideen brothers in Iraq," he said.
"It is a great opportunity and a major duty for my brothers the Palestinian emigrants [in Arab countries], between whom and jihad on the plains of Jerusalem a barrier has been built," he said. "It is a great opportunity and a major duty for my brothers the Palestinian emigrants [in Arab countries], between whom and jihad on the plains of Jerusalem a barrier has been built."
The message comes weeks after a major Israeli offensive in Gaza in response to militant rocket attacks. Some 125 people died in the offensive. The message comes weeks after a major Israeli offensive in Gaza in response to militant rocket attacks. Some 125 people were killed, mostly Palestinian civilians.
It is not clear when the messages were recorded.It is not clear when the messages were recorded.
The authenticity of the first message was confirmed in the US by the CIA and White House.The authenticity of the first message was confirmed in the US by the CIA and White House.
"It can be said with a high degree of confidence that it is in fact the voice of Osama Bin Laden," a CIA official told Reuters news agency."It can be said with a high degree of confidence that it is in fact the voice of Osama Bin Laden," a CIA official told Reuters news agency.
A previous audio message attributed to the al-Qaeda leader appeared in November. He has not been seen on video since October 2004. A previous audio message attributed to the al-Qaeda leader appeared in November.
He is believed to be in hiding in the rugged border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Bin Laden is believed to be in hiding in the rugged border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Western intelligence sources continue to view him as a formidable opponent, our correspondent says, but they also argue al-Qaeda has had recent setbacks with its dramatic reversal of fortunes in Iraq and the killing and capture of several prominent leaders.Western intelligence sources continue to view him as a formidable opponent, our correspondent says, but they also argue al-Qaeda has had recent setbacks with its dramatic reversal of fortunes in Iraq and the killing and capture of several prominent leaders.