Palestinians: The Priorities of Muslim 'Scholars' During COVID-19

As Palestinians are facing a sharp increase in the number of coronavirus cases detected in Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps in the West Bank, their Islamic religious leaders are responding in their usual way: inciting against Israel and Jews.

These religious leaders say they are also worried about other "epidemics" that post a threat to Arabs and Muslims, such as peace with Israel and women's rights.

By July 23, the number of Palestinians diagnosed with the corona virus since last March reached 8,411, according to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health. Seventy-one Palestinians have died after contracting the disease, the ministry said.

Such disturbing statistics, however, do not seem to worry the so-called Association of Palestinian Scholars. These self-proclaimed religious scholars, who proudly describe themselves as "inheritors of the prophets," say that they see no difference between the dangers of the coronavirus and peace with Israel.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Association of Palestinian Scholars has been offering Palestinians nothing but anti-Israel incitement and calls for jihad (holy war) against Israel and Jews. This is the sole "remedy" these "scholars" have extended to their followers as they grapple with the rising number of corona virus infections and economic hardship resulting from lock downs and other restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.

In a more recent statement, the Association of Palestinian Scholars completely ignored Palestinians' fears concerning the alarming increase in confirmed coronavirus cases. Instead, the group embarked on yet another bellicose campaign against Israel and Jews, echoing the old anti-Semitic libel that Jews are "desecrating with their filthy feet our blessed holy sites."

Needless to say, the "scholars" also did not forget to send another warning to all Arabs and Muslims against engaging in any form of normalization with Israel. The "scholars" said they will be"afflicted with God's curse in this life and hereafter" if they do not heed the warning. They then sent yet another warning to Jews: "Do not be tempted by those who support normalization [with Israel] and remember that the Quran descended from Heaven to prevail and triumph."

The Muslim "scholars" also seem concerned about the possibility that Palestinian women may be coming closer to being accorded the rights that are now accorded only to men. For these religious figures, the prospect of women being treated equally and with respect appears to be more of a threat than the coronavirus.

The Palestinian Authority's decision to join the Convention of the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, has enraged the Association of Palestinian Scholars and many other extremist Islamist groups, tribal leaders and religious figures in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In December 2019,the heads of several Palestinian clans criticized the PA for committing to CEDAW and called for banning feminist groups operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"The CEDAW treaty claims that it wants to protect women and the family," the Association said in another statement. "In fact, it wants to destroy the human structure by spreading vice and plunging societies into the swamps of disintegration and loss."

The Muslim "scholars" are saying, in effect, that they do not care about Palestinian women who have been affected by the coronavirus, directly or indirectly, as much as they care about ensuring that these women are not given the rights enjoyed by Palestinian men.

These Muslim leaders appear to be more interested in preventing women from working under unbiased conditions than about those individuals suffering from the pandemic. They also seem to be more interested in demonizing Israel than in dealing with the demon called COVID-19.

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/16276/palestinians-muslim-scholars-covid19