The Saudis are unpredictable. Amid moves toward reform in Saudi Arabia, Turkey has been become more prominent as the exporter of militant Islam worldwide. Yet how much Saudi Arabia has really reformed is an open question: recently the Saudis condemned the “offensive” cartoons of Muhammad in wake of the beheading of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty, […]
Pakistani journalist says Saudi Arabia is pressuring Pakistan to recognize Israel
There could be a surprise, amid newly forming global and regional alliances, but it is extremely unlikely. In fact, it would be a fool’s errand to expect Pakistan even to entertain the possibility of recognizing Israel. According to Haaretz: Pakistan’s government achieved a new world record this week: in gaslighting. The subject: persistent rumors that […]
Saudi journalist states that al-Aqsa Mosque is not in Jerusalem
Yamani is right about al-Aqsa not being in Jerusalem. Of course he doesn’t mean the structure that is called the al-Aqsa Mosque and is on the Temple Mount. He is referring to the al-Aqsa Mosque that is mentioned in the Qur’an: ” Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from the al-Haram mosque […]
Saudis Alarmed At Prospect of Biden Rejoining the Iran Deal
Israel and Saudi Arabia are the two countries most threatened by Iran, and both have been well-pleased with President Trump’s withdrawal in 2018 from the nuclear deal with Iran and the imposition of crippling sanctions on the Islamic Republic, that have helped to bring that country economically to its knees. Iran’s major source of wealth, […]
Saudi Arabia: Muslim injures three with bomb at French remembrance service in ‘Non-Muslim Cemetery’
“IS said in a posting on its news agency, Aamaq, that it primarily targeted the French consul attending the ceremony because of his country’s publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.” Once again, the West is going to be forced to choose between the freedom of expression and submission to Sharia. Which one it will […]
Saudi Arabia condemns ‘offensive’ cartoons in wake of murder of French schoolteacher, but not his beheading
Saudi Arabia has joined the chorus of Islamic states condemning “cartoons offending the Prophet Mohammed.” Conspicuously absent from its statement was any condemnation of the beheading of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty for showing a Muhammad cartoon. To mock or insult or offend Muhammad is a grave offense, worthy of death under the Sharia. This makes […]
Muslim attacks guard with knife at French consulate in Jeddah
Will French authorities recognize that all this is happening because they started to resist the jihad? Or will they back down now? “Man arrested in Jeddah after knife attack on guard at French consulate,” Reuters, October 29, 2020: DUBAI (Reuters) – A Saudi man was arrested in Jeddah after attacking and injuring a guard with […]
Biden Would End U.S. Support For Saudis In Yemen
Joe Biden has called for the U.S. to end its support for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen. Many beg to differ, as here: “Should the US Support Saudi Arabia’s Intervention in Yemen?,” by Eric Bordenkircher, Algemeiner, October 21, 2020: The Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, is mistaken to call for an end to US support […]
An October Surprise?
Here’s an idea for an October Surprise that could transform the political landscape. It has nothing to do with the announcement of a coronavirus vaccine. Nor with Black Lives Matter. Nor with defunding the police. Nor with once-in-a-century wildfires and hurricanes that, in their intensity, happened to be just like those wildfires and hurricanes we’ve […]
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince ‘endangers ties with Western allies,’ making ‘many in London and Washington nervous’
Saudi Arabia is the focus of much attention these days, with hopes high that it, too, will normalize relations with Israel. In the meantime, there are many unresolved issues. The Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, has stated that there will be no deal with Israel “without peace with the Palestinians,” which would include […]
Imam of Great Mosque in Mecca Hints at Normalization with Israel
The imam of Mecca’s Grand Mosque has given a hint that Saudi Arabia may be moving toward normalization of ties with Israel. The story of his unusual sermon is here. The imam of Mecca’s Grand Mosque appeared to hint at normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia in a sermon delivered on Friday, September 4. Following […]
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Saudi Arabia Wants Israel to Pay an ‘Expensive Price’
The enthusiasm in Israel for the normalization agreement with the UAE has caused some to lose their heads. The Jerusalem Post published an editorial on August 19 claiming that there was no reason for Israel to worry about the proposed sale by the U.S. to the UAE of the top-of-the-line Stealth fighter jet, the F-35, […]
Leading Saudi Journalist Defends the UAE-Israel Agreement (Part 2)
In yesterday’s article about Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, we saw that the senior Saudi journalist believes that the Palestinians should be free of attempts by Arab states to dictate what they “must” do. Similarly, he thinks that the policies of Arab states should not be held in thrall to what the Palestinians want, but should be […]
Leading Saudi Journalist Defends the UAE-Israel Agreement (Part 1)
The leading Saudi journalist Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed has forcefully rejected criticism from other Arab and Muslim states, and from the Palestinians themselves, of the new agreement between Israel and the UAE. At MEMRI.org a summary of his main points, followed by a transcript, are here. In his August 15, 2020 column in the Saudi London-based […]
Saudi Arabia’s call for UN to embrace ‘Islamophobia’ as racism threatens global religious freedom
Last week, Jihad Watch reported about “Saudi Arabia calls for ‘final solutions’ to stamp out ‘Islamophobia,’ including prison and fines”: For years now, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other Islamic groups have condemned any and all honest discussion of how jihadis use the texts and teachings of Islam to justify violence and oppression […]
Saudi academic says ‘Muhammad had good relations with the Jewish people’ in bid to normalize relations with Israel
The “normalising of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel” has obvious economic and political implications, despite the spin given to it by Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Alghbban from King Saud University in Riyadh, who is now justifying that relationship on the grounds that Muhammad “had good relations with the Jewish people.” Saudi Arabia has been desperate, […]
At UN, Saudi Arabia calls for ‘final solutions’ to stamp out ‘Islamophobia,’ including prison and fines
Note that Meshaal Bin Ali Al Balawi is not talking about “Islamophobia” as vigilante attacks on innocent Muslims, which are never justified. He is talking about speech that he considers to be promoting “racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia,” and above all, “Islamophobia.” For years now, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other Islamic groups […]
Saudis Offer Condolences On Stabbing In Reading
Another month, another massacre. This time, a greensward in a park in bucolic Reading, England, where parkgoers were taking in the last rays of sunshine. Out of the shadows stepped a man who stabbed three people to death and severely wounded three others. The police have said he is a “Libyan” and that it was […]
Saudis Hold a Virtual Donors’ Conference for Yemen; Let’s Not Take Part
The story is at Al Jazeera: Saudi Arabia has confirmed it will host a virtual donors’ conference next week for Yemen together with the United Nations, which has said the conflict-riven nation risks being overwhelmed by the coronavirus. The state-run Saudi Press Agency on Friday cited a directive from King Salman confirming Tuesday’s donor conference […]
Ilhan Omar denounces Israel’s “destructive policies,” claims it uses money to influence Trump
Ilhan Omar justifies her anti-Semitism by pointing to the fact that along with criticizing Israel, she calls the Saudis “bloodsuckers” and criticizes them as fellow Muslims, yet no one calls her “Islamophobic.” And yes, nothing is hateful about telling the truth. There is much to be legitimately criticized regarding the Saudis, although they are not […]