‘Push for revenge’

CAIRO, Egypt – Al Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri, in an audiotape released yesterday, called on Muslims to strike Jewish and American targets in revenge for Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip earlier this month.

The al-Zawahri tape came on the heels of a message from Osama bin Laden, who called for a holy war to liberate the Palestinian territories. Together, the two messages appeared to be a more direct push by the terror network’s leadership to use widespread anger over the Gaza violence to whip up support.Bin Laden and al-Zawahri have frequently referred to the Palestinian cause in their past messages, but usually in broader terms of liberating Jerusalem and denouncing Israeli violence.Their latest calls for attacks, however, had a more immediate and urgent tone.The string of messages has raised concerns that al Qaeda could be planning new attacks in the West – or is seeking to inspire its sympathisers to carry out violence.Nampa-APTogether, the two messages appeared to be a more direct push by the terror network’s leadership to use widespread anger over the Gaza violence to whip up support.Bin Laden and al-Zawahri have frequently referred to the Palestinian cause in their past messages, but usually in broader terms of liberating Jerusalem and denouncing Israeli violence.Their latest calls for attacks, however, had a more immediate and urgent tone.The string of messages has raised concerns that al Qaeda could be planning new attacks in the West – or is seeking to inspire its sympathisers to carry out violence.Nampa-AP