_WORLD WATCH______________________________
____________________ EGYPT ________________

Supports suicide bombing
Influential imam reverses position
Egypt’s most influential Muslim cleric has reversed a previous position, and expressed support for suicide bombings against Israeli targets.

Sheik Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, the head of the prestigious Al-Azar University, announced that the Palestinian people should “intensify the martyrdom operations against the Zionist enemy.” Sheik Tantawi had previously voiced his opposition to the deliberate killing of civilians.

The sheik said that under current conditions, suicide missions are allowed by Islamic law, and should continue until they “cause the cruel Israeli aggression to retreat.”