Al Qaeda Urges Attacks On Jews, Americans
CAIRO, Egypt — Osama bin Laden's deputy urged Muslims yesterday to attack Jewish and American targets worldwide in retaliation for Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, intensifying an Al Qaeda push to use Arab anger to rally support for the terror network.
The tape by Ayman al-Zawahri came just days after two messages from Mr. bin Laden, who called for a holy war on behalf of the Palestinian Arabs and warned of a "severe" reaction against Europe over the republishing of newspaper cartoons seen as insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
The string of messages has raised fears that Al Qaeda is planning new attacks in the West — or that it hopes to inspire sympathizers to carry out violence. The broader goal may be to show supporters that Al Qaeda can open a new front against Israel.
