Today, al-Sahab (the organization that distributes Bin Laden and Zawahiri’s messages) sent around a statement by Bin Laden on the 60th anniversary of Israel. In his address, Bin Laden stated the “Palestine question” is the chief cause of conflict between Western nations and the Muslim community. It is the ultimate reason why AQ attacked the U.S. on 9/11.

On the question of a Palestinian state, Bin Laden rejects the idea of a two-state solution. Either the Palestinians rule the entire area, or the jihad will continue until it is liberated.

In an interesting turn, Bin Laden identifies the struggle of the Palestinians with the struggle of the Israelites for liberation under the pharaoh, who is the ultimate symbol of tyranny in Islam.

Bin Laden’s statement on Palestine comes after months of Jihadis online urging AQ to do something in the occupied territories. Zawahiri first addressed the Jihadi lobbying in his Q&A, saying that AQ was going to focus on Iraq until the U.S. withdraws, then it will shift its attention to Palestine. But he also said that attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets abroad were a high priority. Bin Laden’s statement confirms it. In the next few months I expect to see attacks like those we saw in North Africa in 2002 (hotel and airplane attacks in Kenya, synagogue attack in Tunisia).

Document (Arabic): 5-16-08-bin-laden-statement-reasons-for-the-conflict (أسباب الصراع في الذكرى الستين لقيام دولة الإحتلال الإسرائيلي)

Document (English): 5-16-08-bin-laden-statement-reasons-for-the-conflict-english