Gaza 18 Oct. sermon complains of lack of Arab support - "O God, destroy
our enemies"

[FBIS (US government agency) Report]

Gaza Palestine Satellite Channel Television in Arabic, official
television station of the Palestinian Authority, and Gaza Voice of Palestine
in Arabic -- Second Program -- official radio station of the Palestinian
Authority broadcasting from Gaza -- on 18 October 2002 at 0950 GMT carry a
35-minute live sermon from an unidentified mosque in Gaza.

An unidentified shaykh delivers the sermon. ...

...The imam then complains that the Arab rulers have disappointed the
Palestinian people by failing to use their armies,
beseeching God "to destroy the enemies and to save Jerusalem." The imam
also blames the world "for ignoring the moans of our children, as well as
our tragic situation, although it claims that it fights terrorism." He also
says: "We are victims of the Zionist terrorism. We are victims of the
occupation's terrorism. Our children were killed in Rafah several hours
ago. Does not this amount to terrorism?" Islam, he says, warns us
against fragmentation and differences, especially during battles, stressing
that the Palestinian people stand fast on this land and will defend
"Jerusalem and our right, sanctities, and the nation's dignity."

In the second part of the sermon, the imam calls on Arabs to return to
God and close their ranks in order to "score victory over our enemies."

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God support Islam and
strengthen Muslims. O God, elevate justice and Islam." He goes on: "O
God, destroy our enemies, your enemies. O God, have mercy on our martyrs
and prisoners and grant the wounded a quick recovery." He then asks God
to protect President Yasir Arafat and enable him to establish a
Palestinian state.