As Gene observes below, the so-called “Arab street” saw no widespread explosion of rage at the killing of Osama bin Laden.
However, as one might expect, a broad range of terrorist groups have reacted with fury to the death of Bin Laden. Those groups include not only the Salafi Jihadi groups, but also those which are supposedly moderate bulwarks against Al Qaeda. We’ve already seen the dismayed reaction of Hamas to Bin Laden’s death.
Now here’s Fatah’s military wing: the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades:
“The [military wing of Fatah] Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades announced the death of Sheikh Osama bin Laden (Abu Abdallah), and said that if bin Laden had indeed died as a Shahid (Martyr), this would not deter the resistance fighters from the path of Jihad against injustice, oppression and occupation in the world.
In their announcement, a copy of which reached MAAN [private Palestinian news agency], the [Al-Aqsa Martyrs’] Brigades said: ‘The Islamic nation awoke to a catastrophe the reports of the Shahid – (Martyr-) death of the Sheikh, Jihad-fighter Osama bin Laden, in a treacherous manner, by the gangs of the heretics and those who stray.’
They continued: ‘The path irrigated with the blood of its leaders is the path of victory, Allah willing. If Abu Abdallah [Bin Laden] was killed, then he merited the Shahada (Death for Allah) which he had sought, and inscribed with his blood the landmarks of Jihad, leaving behind an entire generation that follows the path of Sheikh Osama.’
They said: ‘The military wings of the Jihad fighters in Palestine and outside of it, who have in the past lost many of their commanders and their men, will not stop. This has only strengthened their determination, their resolve and their loyalty to their Shahids (Martyrs), who have turned their words into a reality testifying to their honesty, and which in fact bolsters the drive and the strength of their brothers on the path to victory or Shahdada (Death for Allah)’.
The announcement continued: ‘We say to the American and Israeli occupier: the [Islamic] nation which produced leaders who changed the course of history through their Jihad and their endurance, is a nation that is capable of supplying an abundance of new blood into the arteries of the resistance and is capable of restoring the glory of Islam and the flag of Allahs oneness, Allah willing.'”]
Look, how much clearer could it be.
Despite all the supposedly learned commentary by Islamist-friendly academics and lobbyist, the truth is that can’t put a Rizla between most of the Sunni Islamist terrorist groups.
Those who argue otherwise are fools, wishful thinkers, or propagandists.
Gene adds: Abu Faris writes in the comments:
Al Aqsa Brigades have now denied that they ever issued the statement in question. Maan News Agency carries the following story [in Arabic]:
Commenting on a statement distributed in Gaza on behalf of Al-Aqsa Brigades, Abu Uday said: “We were not aware of it and do not know who usurped the name of [The al-Aqsa] Battalions to issue this statement in the Gaza.”
