Press Release: STOP ISRAEL’S INTRANSIGENCE NOW! 19th July, 2006

Israel has for the past six days been bombarding Palestine and Lebanon from the air, sea and land. Casualty figures continue to rise. Already, Lebanon has recorded more than one hundred and fifty civilian deaths.

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) recall Israel’s atrocities and overbearing arrogance spanning more than six decades: its occupation of Arab territory for years; its refusal to abide by United Nations (UN) resolutions; its invasion of territories at will; its massacre of Palestinians in refugee camps; its kidnapping of Palestinian and Lebanese leaders; its invasion of Palestinian prison to kidnap Palestinian prisoners; its sponsored and open assassination of Palestinians; etc.

Israel’s current indiscriminate bombing raids on Lebanon and Palestine has resulted in the killing of innocent civilians and the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure. This reckless attack on bridges, roads, electricity plants and civilian passenger vehicles portrays Israel as a country embarking on international bloodletting and territorial terrorism. There is a deliberate and well-orchestrated design to cripple Lebanon whose airport has been bombed, its port sealed by Israel’s navy ships and its population hemmed in like cornered rats. The UN must intervene now!

Israel’s target appears to be the retardation of socio-economic progress in the Arab world. Within the sub-region, the Zionist state is the miniature representation of a world without a soul. Israel’s sole objective is to ensure that conscienceless power subjugates powerless conscience. A humanitarian crisis has already begun in both Palestine and Lebanon.

While we recognize Israel’s right to exist within well-defined boarders, we condemn its gun-boat diplomacy, its excessive use of military force against civilian targets and its arrogant display of weaponry. There is a tendency for the escalation of the Middle East crisis if Israel continues to intimidate its neighbours with its sophisticated weapons.
We demand Israel’s immediate withdrawal from both Lebanon and Palestine. We call on the international community to exert influence on Israel before the entire world is embroiled in the conflagration. We call on both Hamas and Hizbullah to recognize Israel’s right to exist within defined boarders. The time to grant autonomy to the state of Palestine is now based on Resolution 242 of the UN. Only thus can cross-boarder skirmishes and incidents of suicide bombing cease.

Israel’s belligerent disposition is suspicious. We denounce American policy of holding the Muslim nations by the hand while Israel stockpiles weapons. We are tempted to believe that the Jewish nation is in possession of weapons of mass destruction. Of course Israel has never denied possessing nuclear and chemical weapons. We therefore call on the UN to subject Israel to scrutiny. The International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) should stop its selective investigation of nations. It is time to check on bellicose Tel Aviv. High time we stopped breathing on Teheran’s neck!

Dr. Is-haq Akintola                                                                        Mallam Yaqub Ahmad
     DIRECTOR                                                                            SECRETARY GENERAL

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