As the Israeli counter-terrorist offensive against the jihadist Hamas regime in Gaza presses ahead, anti-Israel and pro-Hamas rallies have been taking place throughout the world. Video clips from many such rallies are often posted at various open media websites on the Internet. While some rallies appear confined to political protest, others reveal a common and troubling jihadist and anti-Semitic trend. Demonstration in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday. Sharon Lapkin In a video from a January 3 rally in Amsterdam, Dutch Socialist Party MP Harry van Bommel and other left-wing representatives call for an intifada against Israel. The crowd chants such things as: "Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas"; "Hamas, Jihad, Hizbullah"; "In blood and spirit we will redeem you, Palestine"; and "Allah hu Akbar". The "Jews to the gas" chant was heard periodically at soccer games in Europe during the years of the Palestinian Authority's terrorist war that began in 2000. The following video was uploaded to YouTube by Dutch photographer Thomas Schlijper: In a December 30 protest in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, there were calls to "Nuke Israel," as well as at least one woman calling for Jews to "go back to the ovens." Mass Arabic chants included, "There is no god but Allah; and a martyr is beloved of Allah." As night fell, the anti-Israel protesters began chanting, "There is no god but Allah," in Arabic and, "Cowards," in English as they attempted to make physical contact with a smaller group of pro-Israel activists across the street. As can be seen in the video uploaded to the Internet by Tom Trento, police were required to restore order and escort the Jewish and pro-Israeli crowd to safety as the day ended. An Arabic chant that has been accompanying Muslim protest rallies worldwide for decades, if not centuries, is, "Khaybar, Khaybar ya Yahud, jaysh Muhammad sauf ya'ud." The translation is, "Khaybar, Khaybar, O You Jews, the army of Muhammad shall return." The reference is to an early attack that Islam's prophet Muhammad and his followers launched against the Jews of Khaybar, in the Arabian peninsula, in 629 CE. Demonstration in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday. Sharon Lapkin According to accepted Islamic sources ( Sahih Bukhari , vol. 5, book 59, statement 512), "The Prophet had their men killed; their children and woman were taken as captives." In this way, Islam teaches, Muhammad obtained one of his wives (ibid. vol. 3, book 34, statement 437): "The Prophet came to Khaybar and when Allah made him victorious and he conquered the town by breaking the enemy's defense, the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtab was mentioned to him and her husband had been killed while she was a bride. Allah's Apostle selected her for himself...." The chant commemorating this early Muslim slaughter of Jews in Arabia has featured in several anti-Israel rallies inside and outside the Arab world this past week. Some examples: In Algeria, at the University of Blida: In New York City, outside the Israeli consulate, as a speaker refers to the need to eliminate Israel "so that peace can come to the Middle East": In Montreal, Canada, at a mass rally organized in part by a group called "Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights" (as uploaded to YouTube by user "MarianneGagnon"):
