AN Israeli-Arab religious leader who preaches holy war is attracting support from hundreds of people, fuelling fears among Israel’s security services that Al-Qaeda is poised to establish a foothold in the country.

Sheikh Nazem Abu Salim, 40, an Israeli citizen and imam at the most prominent mosque in Nazareth — Shihab al-Din— has called for jihad in Palestine in an Islamic magazine that he publishes from his headquarters in the city.

“The jihad should take place in Jerusalem,” Nazem, a biochemistry graduate of Beersheba University, wrote in the magazine, Ansar Allah. The publication is the print version of a website the sheikh used to run that was shut, possibly by Israeli intelligence. The site attacked the American onslaught on Falluja in Iraq and praised the resistance of its warriors.

Nazem is also distributing one of the most important books of the global jihad, Al-Taifa al-Mansura. Written in 1993, it directs Islamic fundamentalists to take over all Islamic communities.

In an interview last week Nazem described Britain as “the mother that gave birth to the American thug”, and claimed there were people in Britain who believed Muslim blood was cheap. “But our blood is not water, and people should understand this,” he said. “I would like to say to the British people that Tony Blair is committing war crimes against Muslims in Iraq, and that the British public should oppose this terroristic and cowardly policy,” he added.

The Shihab al-Din mosque, in which the sheikh is based, stands near the tomb of Shihab al-Din, a nephew of Saladin, the 12th-century Muslim leader who drove the Crusaders out of Palestine and conquered Jerusalem.

Nazem’s activities have drawn him to the attention of Shin Bet, the Israeli equivalent of Britain’s MI5.

Two years ago he was arrested and legal procedures began against him, based on his preaching and internet publications. He was released on appeal to the High Court of Justice on condition he does not leave Israel.

Despite his anti-British diatribe, the sheikh chose his words carefully during the interview. He believes that the best solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is for the country to be ruled by Islamic law and regards Israel as the avant-garde of “the new Crusades”.

He did not, however, spell out how he proposed to fight the Israelis, apparently aware that the security services could seize on anything that might be interpreted as incitement and use it as grounds to arrest him.

The Israeli security services believe the sheikh’s hundreds of followers share his views of the global jihad, and regard them as potential sleepers ready to carry out acts of terrorism.

Well-informed Middle East sources believe Al-Qaeda attaches considerable importance to the Palestinian territories as a recruiting ground for its war against the West.

“Al-Qaeda believes that the American presence in Iraq is now on borrowed time,” said one source. “If before 9/11 Al-Qaeda had little if any interest in Palestine, the organisation now regards Palestine as its main battleground for years to come.”

Brigadier General Aharon Farkash-Zeevi, Israel’s top intelligence authority, claimed last week that Al-Qaeda had taken advantage of the chaos in Gaza to send in some of its own people.

The Israelis believe Al-Qaeda could also find willing recruits among more warlike members of Hamas, the militant Islamic organisation, disaffected by the decision by the leadership to take part in recent elections.

There does not appear to be any direct link, however, between Sheikh Nazem in Nazareth and alleged Al-Qaeda cells in Gaza and the West Bank.

Security experts believe that Al-Qaeda’s success will depend crucially on whether Israel follows last month’s withdrawal from Gaza with moves to loosen its grip on the West Bank.

“If Israel does not immediately proceed to withdraw from the West Bank, the radical element inspired by Al-Qaeda will step in,” said one expert. “When this happens, the national conflict will turn into a religious nightmare.”

Hamas won control of 13 councils in local elections in the West Bank, according to results announced yesterday, far fewer than had been expected. The more moderate Fatah party of President Mahmoud Abbas took 51.

The elections are seen as an important indicator of Palestinian opinion ahead of parliamentary elections due in January and the result bodes well for Abbas.

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