Bismillah [IslamCity] If and when......
If and when , Israel and/or the USA shall bomb Tehran... and supposing that , they will wipe-off the whole of Tehran from the map Then , the 25 Synagogues of Tehran shall also be destroyed !! Eng. Moustafa Roosenbloom Double Agent 24 May 2009
Bismillah [IslamCity] How M15 blackmails british muslims
FW *How MI5 blackmails British Muslims* *'Work for us or we will say you are a terrorist'* By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor The Independent Thursday, 21 May 2009 Five Muslim community workers have accused MI5 of waging a campaign of blackmail and harassment in an attempt to recruit them as informants. The men claim they were given a choice of working for the Security Service or face detention and harassment in the UK and overseas. They have made official complaints to the police, to the body which oversees the work of the Security Service and to their local MP Frank Dobson. Now they have decided to speak publicly about their experiences in the hope that publicity will stop similar tactics being used in the future. Intelligence gathered by informers is crucial to stopping further terror outrages, but the men's allegations raise concerns about the coercion of young Muslim men by the Security Service and the damage this does to the gathering of information in the future. Three of the men say they were detained at foreign airports on the orders of MI5 after leaving Britain on family holidays last year. After they were sent back to the UK, they were interviewed by MI5 officers who, they say, falsely accused them of links to Islamic extremism. On each occasion the agents said they would lift the travel restrictions and threat of detention in return for their co-operation. When the men refused some of them received what they say were intimidating phone calls and threats. Two other Muslim men say they were approached by MI5 at their homes after police officers posed as postmen. Each of the five men, aged between 19 and 25, was warned that if he did not help the security services he would be considered a terror suspect. A sixth man was held by MI5 for three hours after returning from his honeymoon in Saudi Arabia. He too claims he was threatened with travel restrictions if he tried to leave the UK. An agent who gave her name as Katherine is alleged to have made direct threats to Adydarus Elmi, a 25-year-old cinema worker from north London. In one telephone call she rang him at 7am to congratulate him on the birth of his baby girl. His wife was still seven months' pregnant and the couple had expressly told the hospital that they did not want to know the sex of their child. Mr Elmi further alleges: Katherine tried to threaten me by saying, and it still runs through my mind now: 'Remember, this won't be the last time we ever meet.' And then during our last conversation she explained: 'If you do not want anything to happen to your family you will co-operate.' Madhi Hashi, a 19-year-old care worker from Camden, claims he was held for 16 hours in a cell in Djibouti airport on the orders of MI5. He alleges that when he was returned to the UK on 9 April this year he was met by an MI5 agent who told him his terror suspect status would remain until he agreed to work for the Security Service. He alleges that he was to be given the job of informing on his friends by encouraging them to talk about jihad. Mohamed Nur, 25, a community youth worker from north London, claims he was threatened by the Security Service after an agent gained access to his home accompanied by a police officer posing as a postman. The MI5 agent said, 'Mohamed if you do not work for us we will tell any foreign country you try to travel to that you are a suspected terrorist.' Mohamed Aden, 25, a community youth worker from Camden, was also approached by someone disguised as a postman in August last year. He alleges an agent told him: We're going to make your travelling harder for you if you don't co-operate. None of the six men, who work with disadvantaged youths at the Kentish Town Community Organisation (KTCO), has ever been arrested for terrorism or a terrorism-related offence. They have repeatedly complained about their treatment to the police and to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which oversees the work of the Security Services. In a letter to Lord Justice Mummery, who heads the tribunal, Sharhabeel Lone, the chairman of the KTCO, said: The only thing these young people have in common is that they studied Arabic abroad and are of Somali origin. They are not involved in any terrorist activity whatsoever, nor have they ever been, and the security services are well aware of this. Mr Sharhabeel added: These incidents smack of racism, Islamophobia and all that undermines social cohesion. Threatening British citizens, harassing them in their own country, alienating young people who have committed no crime other than practising a particular faith and being a different colour is a recipe for disaster. These disgraceful incidents have undermined 10 years of hard work and severely impacted social cohesion in Camden. Targeting young people that are role models for all young people in our country in such a disparaging way demonstrates a total lack of understanding of on-the-ground reality and can only be counter-productive. When people are
Bismillah [IslamCity] Leader boycotts trade with Israel
Leader boycotts trade with Israel 13 Jan 2009 Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei says all Muslims should avoid buying or promoting any Israeli-linked product. Since the Zionists are now at war with Islam, Muslims should avoid any action which might bring them [Israelis] profit, Ayatollah Khamenei said Tuesday. Israel launched Operation Cast Lead on Dec. 27 against the Gaza Strip to put an end to rocket attacks against its southern towns. At least 940 Palestinians have been killed and some 4,100 others have been wounded in the Israeli offensive. Hamas, the democratically-elected ruler of the strip, demands a cessation of an 18-month Israeli blockade on the impoverished coastal sliver before its fighters suspend retaliatory rocket attacks. Ayatollah Khamenei urged Muslims to refrain from any business transaction which could benefit the enemies of Islam. The purchase, import, re-import and promotion of any product whose profits will be given to Israeli occupiers directly or indirectly is forbidden [by Islamic decree] and Muslims are prohibited from doing so, the Leader said. http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=82061sectionid=351020101
Bismillah [IslamCity] Indian Army Fears China Attack by 2017
Rahul Singh, Hindustan Times The Indian military fears a 'Chinese aggression' in less than a decade. A secret exercise, called 'Divine Matrix', by the army's military operations directorate has visualised a war scenario with the nuclear-armed neighbour before 2017. Read Full Article : http://jenniferandrew6.newsvine.com/_news/2009/05/24/2860311-indian-army-fears-china-attack-by-2017
Bismillah [IslamCity] Makka -The Holy City for Muslims
Read out a great article on Makka (Mecca) http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/944733/makka_the_holy_city_for_muslims_.html?cat=16 Happy Reading
Bismillah [IslamCity] 3 Who Will Not Enter Paradise
The Prophet (saw) said: Whoever shows disrespect to his (or her) parents, he who reminds people of his charity towards them and he who is addicted to wine will not enter Paradise. (Ahmad)
Bismillah [IslamCity] Want To See Allah? Book Your Seat Now!!!
The Prophet (saw) said: The people of Paradise cannot wait for the arrival of Jumuah to fill their eyes more and more with the presence of the All-Mighty (Allah). For this reason Jumuah has been named as the day of more (increase). (Tabarani) The people of Paradise will meet every friday, and they will be seated according to how close they sat to the Imam during Jumuah Khutbah, this is when people will see Allah. That is the greatest pleasure. People in the lowest Paradise will see Allah every Friday, but people in Jannah firdaws will see Allah twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Bismillah [IslamCity] Malay court hearing 'Allah' case
Malay court hearing 'Allah' case video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8065597.stm A Catholic church in Malaysia which prays to Allah has prompted a court case over who can use the word. Muslim leaders say Islam should be the only faith to use it, saying its use in other faiths could lead to confusion and conversions. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8065597.stm 43548376.jpg
Bismillah [IslamCity] Your Calamities Could Be Your Salvation
The Prophet (saw) said: When Allah wants good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Judgement. (Tirmidhi)
Bismillah [IslamCity] Fatah facing deepest crsis ever
Fatah facing deepest crsis ever http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/en/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s72YnwYrvBbfOmVBxWp3WZrp6JsIHrxIW3P6xUX7LfU0uEEYDcIoyUPUTHjWXyTYRceW40Pwa6NyJbNwWldzDrVA0NdTjv%2bkdvf01n%2bgB%2ffLI%3d
Bismillah [IslamCity] HOW MI5 BLACKMAILS BRITISH MUSLIMS
[image: Click here...]Click here...http://rd.adlink.net/jump/TheIndependent/News.UK_MSB_T_0x0;kw=;pos=top;sz=100x90;tile=1;ord=1242686415059? [image: Advertisement]http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/3834/0/0/%2a/h;44306;0-0;0;34917937;1467-100/90;0/0/0;;%7Eaopt=2/2/ff/2;%7Esscs=%3f [image: Click here...]Click here...http://rd.adlink.net/jump/TheIndependent/News.UK_MSB_T_0x0;kw=;pos=top;sz=100x90;tile=1;ord=1242686415059? Exclusive Exclusive: How MI5 blackmails British Muslims 'Work for us or we will say you are a terrorist' By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor *Thursday, 21 May 2009* - Sharehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.html# [image: The Independent] Close - [image: Digg]Digghttp://digg.com/submit?phase=2url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: del.icio.us]del.icio.ushttp://del.icio.us/post?url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: Facebook]Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.html - [image: Reddit]Reddithttp://reddit.independent.co.uk/submit?url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: Google]Googlehttp://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=addbkmk=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: Stumble Upon]Stumble Uponhttp://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: Fark]Farkhttp://cgi.fark.com/cgi/fark/submit.pl?url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: Newsvine]Newsvinehttp://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seedsave?u=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: YahooBuzz]YahooBuzzhttp://buzz.yahoo.com/submit?url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: Bebo]Bebohttp://www.bebo.com/c/share?Url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: Mixx]Mixxhttp://www.mixx.com/submit?url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - [image: Independent Minds]Independent Mindshttp://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?subject=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.htmltitle=Exclusive:%20How%20MI5%20blackmails%20British%20Muslims%20-%20Home%20News%20-%20Independent.co.uk - Printhttp://license.icopyright.net/g2/3.7463?icx_id=news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.html?service=PrintICopyright - Emailhttp://www.independent.co.uk/clickthrough.do?action=emailedartId=1688618 - Text Size - Normalhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.html#font-normal - Largehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.html#font-large - Extra Largehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.html#font-xlarge [image: Mohamed Aden, 25, who was approached by a fake postman] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/exclusive-how-mi5-blackmails-british-muslims-1688618.html?action=Popup *TERI PENGILLEY* Mohamed Aden, 25, who was approached by a fake postman - [image: Photos]
Bismillah [IslamCity] Grand Mufti: Islamic Ummah at a crossroads
Grand Mufti: Islamic Ummah at a crossroads JEDDAH – Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Aal-Al Sheikh said here Saturday that the Ummah was at a crossroads, either it accepts Islam as a belief and sticks to it properly or surrender to the enemies and their conspiracies. Addressing the 8th Islamic Conference of the Islamic Affairs Ministers, the Grand Mufti said the contemporary world was losing security in its broad meaning. Security is one of the greatest demands of life and necessity for all societies, he stressed. The Grand Mufti called upon the participants to reform their societies, care for the Ummah and its interest, defend its causes and protect its principles. He said the Ummah was an inseparable part of the world thus it was suffering from the alliance of the foes and their attacks against Islam. He also highlighted the intellectual weakness which some of the sons of the Faith were suffering, necessitating the Ummah to unify its ranks and work hand-in-hand to rescue itself. The conference titled “Intellectual Security and the Role of the Ministries of Islamic Affairs in Achieving it,” is being held under the patronage of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Addressing the inaugural session, Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Sabhain, Conference’s Secretary General, said the conference reaffirms the sincere desire for communication and consultation so as to achieve the Islamic solidarity and spread the call of Almighty Allah. It comes at a delicate time beset with challenges posed by some powers advocating alien cultures and ideologies which have no root in Islam so as to corrupt the minds of the young Muslim generation, a matter that doubles the responsibility of the Ministries of the Islamic Affairs in the Islamic world. He also referred to the decisions taken in the previous endowment conferences which touched on issues pertaining to the Islamic call and the influencing aspects in the life of the Ummah such as education. He stressed the important role of the Ministries of the Islamic Affairs in correcting the misconceptions about Islam and advocating the genuine Islamic principles derived from the Holy Qur’an and Prophet’s Sunna. http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regconcontentID=2009052438862
Bismillah [IslamCity] Islamic Youth Awakening (Sahwah) Campaign 27
Islamic Youth Awakening (Sahwah) Campaign 27 http://www.usislam.org/IslamicYouth/islamic_youth.htm Please remember that Monday is our Islamic Youth Awakening day. 1. Glorious Quran on Good Manners: If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct yourself expeditiously [3/134] 2. Words of Wisdom from Prophet Mohammad (PBUH): O Lord, grant me your love, grant me that I love those who love you; grant me, that I might do the deeds that win your love. Make your love dearer to me than the love of myself, my family and wealth. (Tirmidhi) *3. *Muhammad (PBUH), The Best Man Ever Lived: Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the Conservationist, Our Inspiration6http://www.usislam.org/IslamicYouth/Muhammad/inspiration6.htm, by Mona Ayad 4. Videos Of Prophet Muhammad: What Michael H Hart says about Prophet Muhammadhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NINfhVcBzL0 5. Great Muslims who Changed History, Most of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) were Youth: Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (10 years old), Talhah ibn Ubaydullah (14 years old), Said ibn Zayd ( 15 years Old), Sad ibn Abi Waqqas (17 years old), Umar Ibn Al Khattab (26 years old) Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf (30 years), Othman Ibn Affan (34 years old), Abu Bakr (37 years old) Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbalhttp://www.usislam.org/IslamicYouth/GreatMuslims/ahmad_ibn_hanbal.htmOne of the renowned scholars of the four basic schools of Fiqh in Islam 6. Yes, Say it LOUD: YES ISLAM IS THE ANSWER: If Muhammad were to Live in Europe (3), Cut Yourself Some Slack... Have a Glass of Winehttp://www.usislam.org/IslamicYouth/Islam/if_muhammad_were_to_live_in_eur3.htm? , By Ahmad Saad 7. Islamic Inspirational Songs Looking Glass ( REPENTANCE) ~Native deenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5O0SqZTftE Yes you can be strong Muslim, please sign the petition : Muslim Youth Code of Honorhttp://www.usislam.org/IslamicYouth/muslim_youth_code_of_honor.htm Required a million signature each year Until that last Muslim Youth sign in. Please circulate this posting to your brothers and sisters, Jazakum Allah Khairan. Please note that this posting is for adults too. Dr. Adel Elsaie http://www.usislam.org/
Bismillah [IslamCity] India-China Border Dispute
Globalsecurity.org The McMahon Line boundary dispute is at the heart of relations between China and India. China has land and sea boundary issues with 14 neighbors, mostly for historical reasons. The Chinese have two major claims on what India deems its own territory. One claim, in the western sector, is on Aksai Chin in the northeastern section of Ladakh District in Jammu and Kashmir. The other claim is in the eastern sector over a region included in the British-designated North-East Frontier Agency, the disputed part of which India renamed Arunachal Pradesh and made a state. In the fight over these areas in 1962, the well-trained and well-armed troops of the Chinese People's Liberation Army overpowered the ill-equipped Indian troops, who had not been properly acclimatized to fighting at high altitudes. In the early 20th Century Britain sought to advance its line of control and establish buffer zones around its colony in South Asia. In 1913-1914 representatives of China, Tibet and Britain negotiated a treaty in India: the Simla Convention. Sir Henry McMahon, the foreign secretary of British India at the time, drew up the 550 mile (890 km) McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet during the Simla Conference. The so-called McMahon Line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, demarcated what had previously been unclaimed or undefined borders between Britain and Tibet. The McMahon line moved British control substantially northwards. The Tibetan and British representatives at the conference agreed to the line, which ceded Tawang and other Tibetan areas to the imperial British Empire. However the Chinese representative refused to accept the line. Peking claimed territory in this far north down to the border of the plain of Assam. The land is mostly mountainous with Himalayan ranges along the northern borders criss-crossed with mountain ranges running north-south. These divide the state into five river valleys: the Kameng, the Subansiri, the Siang, the Lohit and the Tirap. High mountains and dense forests have prevented intercommunication between tribes living in different river valleys. The geographical isolation thus imposed has led different tribes to elove their own dialects and grow with their distinct identities. Nature has endowed the Arunachal people with a deep sense of beauty which finds delightful expression in their songs, dances and crafts. A slow forward move towards the McMahon Line was begun on the ground, to establish a new de facto boundary. The McMahon Line was then forgotten until about 1935 when the British government decided to publish the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison's Collection of Treaties. The NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) was created in 1954. On 7 November 1959, Chou En-lai proposed that both sides should withdraw their troops twenty kilometres from the McMahon line. The issue was quiet during the decade of cordial Sino-Indian relations, but erupted again during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. During the 1962 war, the PRC captured most of the NEFA. However, China soon declared victory and voluntarily withdrew back to the McMahon Line. China is in occupation of approximately 38,000 sq. kms of Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan ceded 5,180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China. China claims approximately 90,000 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh and about 2000 sq. kms. in the Middle Sector of the India-China boundary. Beijing has stated that it does not recognise Arunachal Pradesh. The border between China and India has never been officially delimited. China's position on the eastern part of the border between the two countries is consistent. Not a single Chinese government recognizes the illegal McMahon Line. For China, the McMahon Line, stands as a symbol of imperialist aggression on the country. The so-called Arunachal Pradesh dispute is China's most intractable border issue. Because the gap between the positions of China and India is wide, it is difficult for both nations to reach consensus. The area of this disputed region is three times that of Taiwan, six times that of Beijing and ten times that of the Malvenas islands, disputed by Britain and Argentina. It is flat and rich in water and forest resources. Arunachal Pradesh is the only issue which has a potential for conflict between India and China. If ever, India and China go to war one day, it will be on this issue. India considers recurring Sino-Indian border clashes a potential threat to its security. Since the war, each side continued to improve its military and logistics capabilities in the disputed regions. China has continued its occupation of the Aksai Chin area, through which it built a strategic highway linking Xizang and Xinjiang autonomous regions. China had a vital military interest in maintaining control over this region, whereas
Bismillah [IslamCity] Nakba at 61 --Palestinian tragedy
Dear members, Assalamu Alaikum.Please read this tragic story. Shah Abdul Hannan _ Nakba at 61 http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/948/re3.htm While its founders believed that the violence and racism at the heart of Israel's birth would be forgotten, it isn't and never will be, writes Khaled Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem _ As they do every year, Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line that separates the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Israel have been commemorating the passage of 61 years since mainly East-European Zionist Jews created the Jewish state on 78 per cent of the Palestinian national homeland. This year, the commemoration affirmed a renewed determination to uphold the right of return for as many as five million Palestinian refugees whose forefathers were expelled from -- and often massacred into fleeing -- their ancestral motherland. Al-Ahram Weekly spoke to some elderly Palestinians who survived the Nakba, or catastrophe, which a growing number of Palestinians are now referring to as the Palestinian holocaust. Mohamed Abu Sharar, who fought alongside the Egyptian army outside the village of Falluja under the command of Gamal Abdel-Nasser, vividly remembers the massacre of his fellow villagers at Al-Dawayema, a few kilometres southwest of Falluja. The Jews killed anyone they saw, they broke the heads of children, cut open the bellies of women with bayonets. They even raped some women before murdering them, said the now 100 years old Abu Sharar. He tearfully recounted how Israeli soldiers mercilessly massacred dozens of fleeing families that had found shelter at a cave outside Al-Dawayema. The Jews ordered them to come out of the cave and get into a row and start walking. And when they started walking, they sprayed them with machinegun fire from two sides, annihilating them all. A woman who pretended to be dead survived. The same fate met some 75 elderly Sufis who had come to the local mosque, known as Masjid Al-Darawish. A contingent of Israeli soldiers arrived at the mosque shortly before Friday's congregational prayer, and riddled all 75 with bullets. Not a single one escaped death. The Weekly asked the century-old Palestinian what was his wish after all these years. My wish has remained unchanged, it is to return to my village, to die and be buried there. Asked if he would accept compensation for his lost property at the village of Al-Dawayema, Abu Sharar said: It is not a matter of property and compensation. This is my country, my history, my home, my childhood memories. My father is buried there, so is his father and grandfather. Would you trade the grave of your father for all the money in the world? The last phrase is what irks the Israelis more than anything else. To be sure, in 1948, both Arabs and Jews miscalculated. The Arabs never thought in their worst nightmares that things would turn out as they have; that Israel would take over the rest of Palestine and the refugees' exile would continue so long. Similarly, the Zionist leadership, mesmerised by arrogance and self-absorption, never thought that the refugees' plight would continue to be relevant 61 years later. Some Israeli leaders thought the old would die, and the young would forget. Today, with hopes for a just peace in Palestine dissipating, Palestinians are more determined than ever to cling to the right of return as the soul and heart of their enduring cause. Moreover, many Palestinians consider the right of return as a moral asset of immense and sacred importance. A few years ago, particularly during the height of the false euphoria accompanying the Oslo peace process, some Palestine Liberation Organisation figures showed a certain willingness to compromise the right of return. Indeed, some Palestinian Authority (PA) officials went as far as reaching and signing understandings with Israeli figures that implicitly recognised that the refugees wouldn't be able to return to their homes in what is now Israel in the context of any final status settlement between Israel and the PA. Now, thanks to the failure of the peace process and also to Hamas's strong standing in the Palestinian national arena, no Palestinian leader or official dares utter a word that might suggest a willingness to compromise on the right of return, as this would be political suicide, both for individuals and political factions. With the right of return becoming a conspicuous feature of Palestinian national discourse, some Israeli leaders are trying nervously to cut that right by force. Last week, the extremist party of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Yisrael Beiteinu, proposed a ban on the commemoration of the Nakba by the 1.5 million Palestinians who are Israeli citizens. The proposal drew angry reaction from Palestinian leaders inside Israel, with Arab Knesset member Ahmed Teibi calling it a pathetic attempt to deny history. Instead of coming to terms with historical facts, the fascists in Israel are trying obliterate
