The brutal videotaped murder in which the head of Al Qaida in
Iraq is shown unsheathing a knife and decapitating a Jewish-
American captive named Nicholas Berg Hy"d, and the
Hamas' mistreatment of the body parts of Israeli soldiers,
have been described as a further descent in the depravity of
Islamic antisemitism and a foreboding sign for Jews.
Bernard Henri Levi, who wrote a book on the murder of Jewish
reporter Danny Pearl Hy"d in Pakistan, said Berg was
also a Jew executed in a similar manner. "According to the
principles of Jihad every Jew who falls into their
hands should be killed. The butchering of two Jews is these
Muslims' message to the masses to imitate them," said Levi.
"They are leading the Jew to the slaughterhouse like cattle
and say this is how all the Jews should be slain."
The footage of the beheading shocked and appalled the West.
President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder condemned the
barbaric murder. American services in Baghdad said they were
almost positive the perpetrator was the head of Al Qaida in
Iraq, the Jordanian Abu Mussa Al Zarkawi, based on his
Jordanian accent and his appearance among the other four
terrorists shown.
The victim's father, Michael Berg, told a New York
Times reporter that they must have discovered he was
Jewish upon finding the tallis and tefillin he
brought to Iraq along with his other belongings. "If they
were undecided what to do with him there is no doubt the
discovery he is Jewish finalized their decision to kill him
in such a brutal manner. It doesn't seem like they would have
acted that way towards him if he were not Jewish."
Berg says before his capture his son was stopped by American
forces as well because he was Jewish. US officials claim that
Iraqi policemen arrested him and released him after seeing he
was being abused by other inmates because he was Jewish. Berg
spoke with his father by phone after his release from jail
and before his disappearance on April 9th.
"For these murderers this is a ritual murder typical of
Islam," said Levi. "On the same day, Palestinians were seen
waving the body parts of killed Israelis and afterwards
Berg's execution was broadcast. The images are intended to
inflame Muslims around the world, satisfying their lust for
revenge and posing a challenge to every Muslim to kill Jews
with horrible cruelty. This is their objective. I
investigated Pearl's death and already back then I found this
is what they are trying to do to every Jew, G-d forbid. I
hope I'm proven wrong and these are the last incidents. When
the phenomenon of suicide attackers began in the intifadah it
was also unusual, but it was clear they would use suicide
more and more as a weapon in their war. And now every Jew is
in danger."
Commentators also say kidnappings and filmed executions are
being transformed into weapons of Palestinian and Islamic
terrorism to increase fear and terror. The Arabs do not care
that these horror scenes serve to justify the war the US is
waging in Iraq. In fact the explosion of the Israel personnel
carriers and the sight of armed men in Gaza inflames their
antisemitic supporters around the world. On French radio one
senses rejoicing at Jewish misfortune.
Le Monde described the slaying of the American captive
as "a new step in horror" and expressed contempt for "the
display of the body parts of the six Israeli soldiers
dripping with blood to the masses in Gaza." Le Monde
wrote that sights like these serve American and Israeli
interests. "But this is the nature of Islamic terrorism."
The Americans stood behind Bush once again due to their
extreme revulsion after seeing part of the execution.
Americans interviewed in the streets called on Bush "to take
off the kid gloves and utilize American firepower."
Journalists from the hate camp nearly defended the horrific
murder. According to the Financial Times the Iraqi
fighters were taking revenge against the Americans for the
torture of Iraqis in the Abu Gharib Prison and attacked
Israel. In its editorial the business daily describes the
Arabs as weak compared to Israeli might and comes close to
justifying Palestinian terrorism. "The invasion of Iraq has
become horrific with horrific footage from both sides,"
writes the Financial Times. "The development demands a
change in Iraq and the transfer of power there to the United
Nations."
