CAIRO: Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has thrown some support behind the head of the International Association of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Yussif al-Qaradawy's calls for Arabs, Muslims and the globe to join Palestinians in “a day of anger in support of al-Aqsa Mosque,” which he and other Arab leaders have become angered over Israel's use of force at the holy monument. In a statement to media, Qaradawy – a leading Islamic figure based in Qatar with ties to Egypt's Brotherhood in the past and founder/financier of Islamic media – called for marches on Friday to protest the Jewish state's policies. Qaradawy called for the peaceful marches to morph into a sit-in on Friday night at the mosque, where believes “supplicating” to God will help “protect the sanctuaries of Muslims.” He condemned Arab governments' silence towards what he called the “violation of Al Aqsa's holiness” by Israeli settlers and occupation forces. “This Umma (Muslim community) is still resilient and won’t die. Leaders will die, but nations won’t,†he continued. “We came to speak freely at the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate urging masses of people in the Arab and Islamic world, to undertake their responsibility to defend Al Aqsa mosque. The Palestinian cause does not belong to the Arabs, Muslims, or even the Palestinians alone, but belongs to the entire world. Every Muslim and Arab must consider Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque the most significant of his priorities,” he said in Cairo. For their part, the Muslim Brotherhood has been outspoken against the Israeli aggression at the mosque. Mohamed Morsi, a top leader in the Islamic group, said that “Israel's storming of the mosque is an effort to liquidate the Palestinian issue in accordance with the schemes of the United States and Israel in the Arab region.” However, other Brotherhood members are not so firebrand in their accusations. Another top official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while the Islamic group agrees that action should be taken, “there is also a need to establish a line of communication in order to resolve these horrific incidents and bring peace to the region. In his speech delivered at the Syndicate, Qaradawy argued the Israeli occupation have been involved in “destructive excavations directly beneath the mosque” and said that Arab leaders' passive and indifferent attitude must be called into question. “We sacrifice our bodies and souls to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque,” he said, highlighting that “it isn’t a choice but a responsibility and duty of each and every Muslim all over the world.” In the call to action, Qaradawy demanded all trade unions, professional associations and institutions of civil society “participate and voice their condemnation of the barbaric invasions and attacks on [the] al-Aqsa Mosque. Failure to save [the] Mosque and Jerusalem is an unacceptable failure and loss to the entire Muslim nation and actual proof of corruption.” “The time has come and the Israelis must know that we object to what is being done to our most honored and holy place. What belongs to the Muslims will always be for the Muslims. We have sacrificed, are still sacrificing and will continue to success. We will not go down without a fight,” added Qaradawy. The Brotherhood official argued that while it is important for Muslims and Arabs to stand united, threats of violence “must remain on the sidelines, because to do so would bring the scorn of the Western media and governments on Islamic groups. Qaradawy also urged a mass boycott of Israeli and American products. “With every penny that we spend, Israel buys a bullet to kill a Palestinian and that is something you will be accountable for in front of Allah.”
