“With the Help of Allah, You Will Reach Jerusalem”

In an interview with Palestinian television about two months ago, the new Israeli government minister Salah Tarif said he regrets that the Druze serve in the IDF and fight “their brothers.”

Tarif called upon Israel to release all the “Palestinian prisoners,” and added that he wishes good health to Hamas’s spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin.

Of prime minister elect Ariel Sharon who appointed him as a minister in his cabinet, he said: “Will the person who defiled the el-Aksa Mosque rule once again?”

The Israeli research institution “Palestinian Media Watch,” which monitors broadcasts in the Palestinian media in the territories gave Yedioth Ahronoth a copy of a tape of the interview which was aired on January 23.

In the interview,Tarif also said: “If Israel does not put an end to the conflict by establishing a Palestinian state, then the Druze Arab community will not have no choice but to reassess the situation and take a brave stand, no matter the price.”

As to the Druze serving in the IDF, Tarif said: “Unfortunately the Druze soldiers are recruited by law and not by choice. Unfortunately there are others who volunteer.” He also addressed the chief of staff: “Why are you sending Druze and Bedouin soldiers to the lines of confrontation with the Palestinians? We do not want to be a part of the provocation.”

Tarif even boasted: “I am responsible for every unit with Druze in it that was taken out of the confrontation line with our Palestinian brothers.”

Tarif also addressed the Palestinian people and said with regard to the riots: “I am certain that this great sacrifice, with the help of Allah, will lead to the establishment of the State of Palestine, to Jerusalem and to el-Aksa.”

Besides the harsh criticism he directed at Sharon, Tarif called several people who are currently sitting around the cabinet table with him, such as Tzahi Hanegbi, “right wing fascists.” Minister Tarif said yesterday in response: “I would never in my life say such things. It is simply outrageous that anyone thinks I could say such a thing.”

It should be noted that Yedioth Ahronoth has a tape of the interview.

Salah Tarif, the first non-Jewish minister in the history of the State of Israel was sworn in as minister yesterday with mixed emotions. On the one hand, he feels pride at the historic moment, and on the other, he is concerned over serving as a minister in a government headed by Ariel Sharon. “If heaven forbid, there should be a deterioration, I will be in a very awkward position,” Tarif said yesterday.