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NEWS | |
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CONVERSATION WITH… SHEIKH PROF. ABDUL HADI PALAZZI
Pro-Israel sheikh visits Yale March 21., 2003 Sheikh Professor Abdul Hadi Palazzi has achieved international recognition for his uncompromising pro-American, pro-Israel and pro-Jewish teachings. On September 11, 2002, he and Daniele Capezzone led a pro-American and pro-Israel demonstration outside the Saudi Arabian controlled Wahhabi mosque of Rome, organized by the Italian Muslim Association and the Italian Radical Party in remembrance of Sept. 11 U.S. and Israeli victims of terror attacks. Palazzi is resident professor of Middle East Studies at the Research Institute for Anthropological Sciences in Rome; consultant for Middle East Affairs to R.A.I. (Italian State TV); and a professional translator from Arabic and English. He serves as Secretary General of the Italian Muslim Association; as Muslim co-founder and co-chairman of the Islam-Israel Fellowship and as Muslim chair of the Jerusalem Embassy Initiative, both of the Root & Branch Association, Ltd. He received a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies by appointment of the former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Abdul Aziz Ibn Baz; a degree in Islamic Science from the University of al-Azhar as-Sharif (Cairo, Egypt); and an M.A. from the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Rome (Rome, Italy). In 2001, Israel President Moshe Katsav honored him for his support of America, Israel and Jews worldwide. The Ledger caught up with Palazzi at a recent speech to community leaders at the Chai Society at Yale University. His visit to Connecticut was sponsored by the Chai Society with assistance from the ADL Laurel Vlock Campus Lecture Series. Q: What's your assessment of the potential war in Iraq? A: This is a critical moment in the history of the world. This war can create a new situation in the region n the United States can really contribute for the first time to a form of democratic government in an Arab state. This will change the perception of the role of America even in the Arab world. Q: What are some of the differences between this and the previous conflict with Iraq? A: The basic difference between this war and the Gulf War in 1991 is that that war was a war against Saddam Hussein but not really a war of liberation. … We are realizing that what was happening in 1991 was the idea of thinking that democracy works for ourselves but not for the rest of the world. From a certain point of view, this is what is changing, to survive it is necessary to expand this kind of international influence. The globalization of the economy movement must have as its counterpoint the globalization of democracy … We must convince others in the Arab world that democracy can work for them. Q: Are there concerns about potential war? A: Of course, I see signals that preoccupy me. The wording of the declaration from President Bush going to war against Iraq could create conditions for a Palestinian state. It's a contradictory point of view. You cannot defeat terrorism by bowing to terror. If you are not creating a democratic state, it will not bring peace to the Middle East. It will create instability in the Middle East. Q: So, you are opposed to creating a Palestinian state? A: What will be the reaction of the other regimes? The creation was a victory and that victory was achieved by terror … The message you are sending is there are cases in which terror works. It is just moving the problem from one place to another. We are solving the problem in Afghanistan. [If a Palestinian state] is created, the role of Hamas will be the same role as Al Quaeda played in Afghanistan. It would gvie Hamas total control of that state. Part of the policy of the totalitarian regime is to use the existence of Israel as a scapegoat. If Arab countries want to be allies of the United States, they need to stop using that kind of propaganda. It is time for a coalition which wants to promote democracy in the Arab world. It is not possible to accept someone as a supporter of democracy unless [they] accept the existence of Israel. Q: Has Italy's view on the Middle East changed? A: In Italy, we had the situation of from the extreme left to the extreme right, no one was a supporter of Israel. Everyone was a supporter of the Palestinian Authority. Most intellectuals, newspapers, no one spared the occasion to blame Israel. … After the siege at the Church of the Nativity, the public was shocked by the positon of the Catholic church. Terrorists occupy the church, taking priests as hostages. What is the Vatican doing? Are they blaming the terrorist occupying the church? They are blaming the Israeli army surrounding the church. If terrorists occupied a church in [Italy], do you think Italian police wouldn't surround it? Would the Italian press blame the police? It was now possible to make a demonstration in support of Israel. The participation in that demonstration was huge. That was the starting point of a change in attitude, even in the media. … It is possible to change public opinion. I think even it is possible and more important that the same thing can happen in America. Q: What would you like to see? A: Leaders of the Jewish community in America should develop relations with friendly Muslim nations, like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Why does Israel ignore that support? I'm glad to say at least the Jewish community in America recognizes that support. Q: What is your take on Oslo? A: Before there was an intifada by rocks; after, there was an intifada by weapons. The idea of legitimizing the PLO, of dealing with Arafat as if he is not the leader of a terrorist state is a total failure. My position is Arafat must resign. … We must develop a relation to hear the voice of those who criticize the Palestinian Authority, the very people who were silenced by the Oslo agreement. The voices of opposition in the territiories were silenced, by execution, by all possible means. Before, people were not afraid to criticize the Palestinian Authority; now it is impossible n except for those in East Jerusalem. Q: What does the Koran have to say about Israel and the Jewish people? A: The 17th chapter of the Koran deals with the history of the Jewish people. It starts with the destruction of the Temple. It says the Temple was built and destroyed twice, then one of the verses, either verse 103 or 104, says the Jewish people was assembled in Israel after being liberated from Egypt. Before the end of the world, they will be reassembled again in the same way. When the Zionist movement started, the governor of Mecca said, "So we are seeing the realization of what is in the Koran." Comments? E-mail maradresner @jewishledger.com. | |