Lebanese Ex-Mufti Calls on ‘Jihad’ in Support of Palestinians

A senior Sunni cleric in Lebanon has called on all Muslims to carry out jihad, or holy war, in support of the Palestinians after the U.S. decision to move its embassy in Israel to Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, the former top Sunni religious authority, or mufti, in Lebanon, also said it is not sanctioned religiously for the Palestinians or any Arab or Muslim country to “surrender, reconcile or make peace deals or give up any inch” of historic Palestine.

Qabbani, who still has clout in the community, also said it is not acceptable for them to “recognize so-called Israel.”

Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani is the former Grand Mufti of Lebanon and the most prominent Sunni Muslim cleric in the country. Qabbani succeeded former Grand Mufti Hassan Khaled. The current Grand Mufti of Lebanon is Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan.