Al-Qaradawi Describes the Establishment of Israel as "The Great Calamity"
Al-Qaradawi stated that Arabs and Muslims have continued for years to speak about Israel through means of media and newspaper outlets as a ‘petty state’ or ‘so-called’ Israel. He added that, “Now Israel has become a state, and we have become the ‘so-called.’”
Al-Qaradawi continued: “Now the second calamity was the war of ’67.” He criticized Arab demands for Israel to return to the pre-’67 borders, “as if its 1948 borders were legitimate…” Al-Qaradawi stressed that Israel will not answer, even to this demand.
Al-Qaradawi also criticized the postponement of discussion of the Palestinian issue in international conferences, the last being the Oslo Conference. He described current efforts by Arab nations and the Arab League to achieve peace with Israel as “panting behind the mirage of peace.”
At the end of his sermon, al-Qaradawi called all Palestinian factions to unite, and forget their differences. He stressed that differences can arise in times of prosperity, but they cannot be afforded in the current trial through which the state of Palestine is passing.Al-Shorouk, May 14, 2010
