Visiting Islamic advocate Azzam Tamimi answers questions concerning Palestine .

By Jamshed Bokhari, IOL Staff Writer 

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, May 6 (IslamOnline) - Visiting Islamic advocate Azzam Tamimi, director of the London-based Institute of Islamic Political Thought, spoke to a sizeable number of Muslims at the Dar-al-Hijra mosque Sunday evening stating that it would preferable to have all Muslims united in an ummah (community of believers), rather than separated into several nations. 

Speaking at one of the most recognized mosques in northern Virginia and the Washington, DC, metro area to an enthralled and attentive audience on the topic of "Understanding the Current Situation in Palestine: The Roots of Conflict" Tamimi lambasted Zionism, the idea of a secular solution to the Palestinian issue and criticized both the current Palestinian leadership and Arab regimes surrounding the conflict. 

Tamami at first separated the concepts of religious Judaism and secular Zionism by referencing orthodox Judaic texts and the beliefs of the Neturei Karta International, an orthodox Jewish group that believes Zionism has nothing to do with the Jewish religion and states that Israel is not a Jewish state, as the very existence of Israel goes against Judaic religious beliefs. 

And then spoke of Zionism, defining it as “nationalist, secularist movement, and not a religious movement.” 

On debates concerning the situation in the region, Tamami stated, “I don’t care what the Israelis say, what their arguments are. They are thieves.” 

“Israel is a sinister entity, a racist entity, worse than the apartheid of South Africa,” he continued, offering a possible solution to the Palestinian dilemma by giving the example of the previous South African regime. 

“Apartheid was defeated by a world movement…There needs to be a world movement against Zionism,” in which both Muslims and non-Muslims, religious and secular, should be welcomed. 

Tamami also spoke of Palestinian refugees who still hold the keys to homes confiscated by Israel dating back to 1948. Specifically mentioning the New York Times article in which Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat acknowledged bargaining on diaspora Palestinians right of return, Tamimi commented, “Who has the right to take their properties, their lives?” 

Audience listens intently to presentation on Palestine at Dar-al-Hijra mosque.

Lambasting the idea of secular states and that the Palestinians should be liberated, Tamimi, visibly agitated, said he did not “want a Palestinian state,” did not “want another stupid state.” 

Referring to current Arab regimes, Tamimi commented, “We already have 22 stupid states who can do nothing about the Palestinian situation.” 

Asked by IslamOnline as to the reason for the difference in attitude among Europeans, who are more accepting of the Palestinian cause, and the U.S., Tamimi pointed to the existence of powerful pro-Israeli lobbies in the U.S. and the nature of the U.S. political system in gathering campaign finances, the prevalence of Christian Zionists in the U.S., and more effective Muslim organizations in Europe. 

As to the media, he asserted, “It’s a matter of ownership and control,” referring to the unbalanced reporting emanating from mainstream U.S. media of events in the region, and that “the media shapes public opinion.” 

Emphasizing the nature conflict and the theme separating Zionism from Judaism, Tamimi asserted that the Palestinian conflict is “not a war between Islam and Judaism, but a war against aggression.”.

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