The following excerpts are from an interview with Yemen-based Egyptian cleric Sheik Wagdi Ghoneim, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on May 31, 2010.
- To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/0/0/0/0/0/0/2491
- For more on the Gaza flotilla, see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 2986, "MEMRI TV Clips on the Gaza Flotilla: Activists On Board Chant Songs of Martyrdom at Departure," May 31, 2010, MEMRI TV Clips on the Gaza Flotilla: Activists On Board Chant Songs of Martyrdom at Departure.
"I Hold the Egyptian Regime Responsible For All That Has Happened"
Sheik Wagdi Ghoneim: "I hold the Egyptian regime responsible for all that has happened. Why must people come from the end of the world in order to support our brothers, while we are right next to them?
[...]
"Shouldn't this be our responsibility? Shouldn't it be the responsibility of the Egyptian regime? I refrain from naming names only out of respect for Al-Jazeera TV, but when the Egyptian president is said to be Israel's strategic depth, what else can we expect? We place our trust in Allah. You talked about the religious scholars and preachers. This is the reason I am wearing these clothes, and I am prepared."
Interviewer: "I was meaning to ask you about those military fatigues and cap. What message do you want to convey to our Arab viewers, and to the person whose name you refrained from mentioning?"
Sheik Wagdi Ghoneim: "I wanted to hold a submachine gun in my hands as well, but I couldn't find one. If I had a submachine gun, I would have held it while talking to you, in order to show that this is the outfit of religious scholars when it is time to fight, when it is time to wage Jihad.
[...]
"They attacked Sheik Raed Sallah, may Allah grant him martyrdom. He shouldn't agree to be medically treated by them. He must not take their medicine. May Allah grant him martyrdom, and may I and all the Muslims follow him [in martyrdom]." [...]
Hamas is Fighting America, Europe, and All the Crusader West, Which Supports the Zionist Entity"
"Today, America and the West attack us in Iraq and in Afghanistan, and they help the Zionist entity attack us, yet we are the terrorists. We, the ones who are attacked are called 'terrorists.' Look what they have done. They use these terms. By Allah, they are the greatest terrorists. They are the ones who kill. Look at the drones that attack brides and bridegrooms in Afghanistan.
[...]
"Hamas is fighting America, Europe, and all the Crusader West, which supports the Zionist entity. Why Hamas? Because it raises the banner of Jihad and of resistance, and our brother Haniya, may Allah protect him and grant him martyrdom, declared: 'We will never recognize Israel.'" [...]
"The Jews... Respect Only One Thing – Force"
"Look, the Jews do not respect words or treaties. The Jews of the Qaynuqa', Nazir, and Qurayza tribes – they all violated their treaty with the Prophet Muhammad. They only respect one thing – force. This is why I am wearing this. I say to them: Today, you see me on TV, but Allah willing, I will be coming after you. They respect nothing but force.
[...]
"By Allah, the only way to liberate Palestine and raise our heads high is the path taken by Hamas and the other resistance factions – Jihad for the sake of Allah.
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"They say that there were weapons aboard these ships. Fine, but don't you bring weapons from America? A boat full of weapons passed through the Suez Canal. Did it or didn't it? What, you are allowed to do this, but we are not?!
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"What we should have done, if we were real men... We are real men, but hopefully, God will give us the honor… God said: 'Prepare for them what force and steeds of war you can, to cast fear in the hearts of Allah's enemy and of your own.' That's why whenever someone calls me a terrorist, I call him 'an enemy of Allah.'" [...]
