Al-Qaeda Deputy Ayman Al-Zawahiri Calls on Hamas to Enforce the Shari'a in Gaza; Urges Mujahideen to Attack Zionist Interests Throughout the World

On June 25, 2007, Al-Sahab posted an audio message by Ayman Al-Zawahiri titled "40 Years after the Fall of Jerusalem." In his address, Al-Zawahiri says that the 1967 defeat in Jerusalem, and the repeated Arab failures since then, result from the Arabs' rejection of Islam and their reliance on the infidels. He reminds Hamas that the goal of its takeover of Gaza should be to enforce the law of Allah, and urges it to join ranks with the mujahideen around the world in order to repel the attack on Gaza, that is sure to come soon. In addition, he calls on the mujahideen throughout the world to extend military and economic assistance to Hamas, and to attack "Zionist interests" everywhere.

Alan Johnston Video Appeal

On June 25, 2007, Islamist websites posted a video titled "Alan's Appeal," in which the adducted British journalist Alan Johnston, dressed in what appears to be an explosive belt, implores Hamas and the British government not to attempt his release by force, as this will prompt his captors to kill him.

The video can be viewed at:

http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ClipMediaID=964904&ak=null

Below are images from the video:

Al-Qaeda in Egypt Urges Mujahideen to Attack "Zionist-Crusader" Interests in Egypt

On June 24, 2007, Islamist websites posted a communiqué by Al-Qaeda in Egypt, signed by Muhammad Khalil Al-Hakaymah. In the communiqué, Al-Hakaymah congratulates Hamas on its recent takeover of Gaza, which "liberated Palestine from the claws of the collaborators." He calls upon the mujahideen in Egypt to assist Hamas by attacking all "Zionist-Crusader" forces, by uprooting any "military or civilian Zionist presence in Egypt," and by attacking "Zionist-Crusader" interests in the country.

Commander of Al-Qaeda in Yemen: Jihad in Yemen Will Continue Until the Last Crusader is Expelled From the Arabian Peninsula

On June 20, 2007, Islamist websites posted a 21-minute audio recording by Abu Hurairah Al-San'ani, a commander of Al-Qaeda in Yemen,[1] in which he denies reports that his organization is holding talks with the Yemeni government.

Al-San'ani first states that it was the top commander of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, Nasser Al-Wahaishi (nicknamed Abu Basir), who ordered him to deny these claims. Next, he says that those who collaborate with the Crusaders in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Saudi Peninsula repeatedly try to persuade the mujahideen to negotiate with their enemies "in order to rescue the Crusaders from the dead end into which they have gotten themselves... and in order to extinguish the flame of jihad... but Allah has protected our brothers from this pitfall which leads to hell." The jihad fighters, he adds, have been advised to turn over a new leaf by stopping their jihad and turning themselves in, but they will not. Rather, jihad will continue until the last of the infidels is expelled from the Arabian Peninsula – especially since victory is near, and the president of Yemen "is now breathing his last [breath] after his battle [against the mujahideen] in Sa'dah and [due to] his government's corruption."

Finally, Abu Hurairah calls on the jihad fighters to join ranks, and not to be tempted to cooperate with the Yemeni government, because "today, both East and West are terrified of the jihad fighters, so there is no need for concessions... [Jihad] is the command of the hour [and will continue to be] until the day of judgment."