19-Feb-12: Bread, hunger, detention and the Iranians

Someone wrote to us just now in response to the blog entry we posted in the last hour about the hunger strike of a Palestinian Arab terrorist. How true is it that the Islamic Jihad people get their backing from the Iranians, we were asked? We want that person's attention to be directed to a November 2011 syndicated Reuters report called "Islamist Jihad ready for all-out war with Israel" by Crispian Balmer and Nidal al-Mughrabi. Datelined Gaza, November 3, 2011, it includes a revealing interview with a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, one Abu Ahmed.

Islamic Jihad has kept its focus firmly on the conflict, gaining in prominence and enjoying significant backing from Muslim supporters, including Iran.
"We are proud and honored to say that the Islamic Republic of Iran gives us support and help," Abu Ahmed, the spokesman for Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the Jerusalem Brigades, told Reuters in a rare, long interview.
He denied widespread reports that Iran had provided his group with arms and smiled at suggestions it now receives more sophisticated weaponry from Tehran than Hamas. He also declined to comment on rumors that the Jihadists were trained by Iran.
"What I will say is that we have every right to turn to every source of power for help," said the burly, bearded Abu Ahmed, occasionally flicking a string of yellow prayer beads.

The rest of it is here. 

It's plain to see that there is a deliberate campaign underway to put Adnan ("Bread, hunger and detention") on a pedestal. Agitating in support of the self-imposed campaign of a hunger-striking "baker" who fronts for the savages of the PIJ is misplaced, a shameful betrayal of human rights.