An Italian Imam in Toronto

Muslim Abdul Hadi Palazzi talks on behalf of Israel

An Italian Imam talks to the world through a Jewish microphone. He condemns terrorism; says that Arafat harbours a "criminal mindset"; claims that, contrary to common misconceptions, many Palestinians are ready to recognize the State of Israel; and accuses the international community of anti-Semitism because of its position on the Mideast events.
He's Abdul Hadi Palazzi, a controversial figure both at home and abroad. He was born in Rome 41 years ago to Italian parents, but his mother had Syrian heritage, and that's where Islam came into his family and his life, finally leading him to become the secretary of the Italian Muslims Association and, more importantly, one of the founders of the Islam-Israel Fellowship.
This association was created in 1997 in order to promote dialogue between religious leaders belonging to Islam and Jewry. In his capacity as chair of this organization, Palazzi came to Canada at the invitation of the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research, for a series of lectures to be held in Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg.
This is far from the first time Sheikh Palazzi has been "adopted" by Jewish organizations and has taken part in pro-Israeli events. His life as a religious man, as a scholar and as a Muslim, carries him all over the world, repeating the same message every time. These lectures brought him the antipathy of many of his fellow Muslims, and last week a standing ovation from his Montreal audience.
It might seem strange that a Jewish research institute organizes lectures on the situation in Israel inviting an imam, but in your case this happens quite often. How do you explain it?
"It's not that strange. These are my ideas, shared by many other people who explain them to different audiences. Moreover, this dialogue is precisely the purpose of the Islam-Israel Fellowship, the organization I chair. The point is that a fundamentalism that should not be mistaken for Islam has been spreading".
Your interpretation of the Koran is widely criticized and called unreliable. Your position does not seem to be the official one.
"Whose 'official position' are we talking about? I condemn terrorism and fundamentalism, precisely because they are not what our faith requires. It's really simple: according to the Koran, suicide is a sin. In other words, those who commit suicide, for whatever reason, go to hell. This interpretation dates back to the first century of Islam's history. The same goes for war, which must be between armies led by heads of state. Where's the justification for what's happening in Israel? Therefore, according to the Koran, terrorism is unacceptable. On the other hand, a lot of people accept it, in Palestine, kids are educated in violence and terrorism in the schools. Even the international community accepts it, otherwise the position would not be the one we see every day".
On several occasions, you accused the United States, and even Europe, of anti-Semitism. What do you mean by that?
"I mean that, due to economic considerations, these countries have in fact embraced the cause of the terrorists. Fundamentalist propaganda is funded by these countries, which on the one hand claim they want peace, and on the other do nothing to obtain it, to find out which tools are needed".
Which tools are needed, in your opinion?
"Condemning terrorism for real, taking action. Stopping people who must be stopped, in this case, Arafat. Not allowing, for instance, that when a church is taken over by fundamentalists, such as the Nativity Church in Bethlehem, the outrage goes against the Israeli army that tries to intervene. Had it happened anywhere else, things would have been different. There's no international court of justice for Arafat like there is for Milosevic".
And you believe that public opinion is with you?
"Yes, it is. There's a huge distance between what the public thinks and feels, and the world of politics".
Are you optimistic or pessimistic?
"I'm pessimistic, because I can't see any real change, even though in Italy, for instance, something moved in the last few weeks, at least as far as public opinion is concerned".

Publication Date: 2002-05-12
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1329