Militant call to kill Jews stokes fears in U.S.

Abdel-Rahman

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- U.S. Jewish leaders expressed outrage and concern on Thursday after an imprisoned Islamic militant called on Muslims to kill Jews worldwide after a week of deadly Mideast clashes between Palestinians and Israelis.

"Outrageous and sickening would be an understatement," New York state Assemblyman Dov Hikind said of the remarks by Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, the spiritual leader of Egypt's largest Islamic militant group, al-Gama'a al-Islamiya (Islamic Group).

The Jewish lawmaker, whose district in Brooklyn includes the sheikh's mosque, said he took the statement very seriously.

"I am very, very concerned," Hikind said. "Someone like this who has followers out there -- he's a religious leader -- all you need is one nut who wants to be a martyr."

Abdel-Rahman's remarks came as Jews prepare for Yom Kippur, one of the most solemn holidays of the Jewish calendar, which begins at sundown on Sunday.

Jason Isaacson, director of government and international affairs for the American Jewish Committee, said, "I think it would be imprudent to be anything but concerned."

"Whenever there are clashes between Arabs and Israelis, the extremist elements that have targeted Americans, Israelis, Jews and sometimes other identifiable groups are mobilized," he said.

Hikind likened Abdel-Rahman's statement to "pouring fuel onto the fire at a very difficult time."

Abdel-Rahman is serving a life term in the United States for his part in a plot to blow up the United Nations and other New York landmarks.

"Jihad (Holy War) is now a duty for the entire (Islamic) nation until Palestine and the Aqsa mosque are liberated and Jews are either pushed into their graves or back where they came from," said the sheikh's statement, relayed to the media through the imprisoned cleric's legal advisers.

Mainstream U.S.-based Islamic groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations offered no comment on his remarks.

The United States has already closed its embassies and consulates in the Arab world for four or five days, fearing violent demonstrations in support of Palestinians fighting Israeli forces.

As of Thursday, 70 people had been killed in a week of violence that has left the peace process in tatters. Hundreds of Palestinians have been hurt.

New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik said this week that police were investigating 10 possible bias incidents reported since the Mideast flare-up began. No arrests had been made.

Kerik said police officers would be placed on duty at mosques and synagogues, and he ordered the deployment of more officers in Jewish and Arab neighborhoods.

The president of the North American Board of Rabbis and founder of The Hampton Synagogue on Long Island, Rabbi Marc Schneier, said, "We are concerned for the safety of our congregants during this High Holy Day season."

"In response, we have heightened security," Schneier said.

FBI officials said they had received no specific threats against Jewish concerns.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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