Islamic Jihad leader Dr. Ramadan Abdullah Shalah is no stranger to controversy, and last week whipped up a fresh batch with his contention that Jews love Jerusalem more than Muslims do, Army Radio reported on Monday.
Speaking at a religious conference in Tehran last week, Shalah's unexpected contention was not meant as rare praise for the Jews' religious devotion. His message was that Muslims should be fighting for the holy city not only for political purposes, but for the sake of their cultural heritage.
Driving home his point, Shalah treated the audience to his translation of Naomi Shemer's controversial song "Jerusalem of Gold." Every Israeli knows it by heart, said Shalah, while Palestinians for their part show no such profound attachment: "Learn from the Jews," he said.
Jerusalem is the birthplace of Judaism and will always remain so. Other guests are welcome, as long as they don't cause trouble.
He is right that so-called 'palestinians' don't show the same attachment. They even vandalise Al Aqsa all the time with rock throwing.