Palestinians swear allegiance to Bin Laden

A group of Palestinians have sworn allegiance to Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, according to statement posted on a major internet jihad forum last month.

The message appeared on the al-Firdaws forum – a meeting point of jihadis from around the world – and declared: "We believe that God will walk on the path of Sheikh Osama, may God preserve him, and the path of the martyr Abu Musab al-Zarqawi…. We in the jihad in the land of Rabat (Islamic term for Israel – Y.L.) do not belong to any faction, and we declare loyalty to Sheikh Osama, may God preserve him. We pledge to go down the path of the martyrs and fighters in Mesopotamia (Iraq), Chechnya, Afghanistan, and all parts of the world."

Earlier this week, al-Qaeda number two leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, accused Hamas of falling into "the swamp of surrender," following the formation of the Hamas- Fatah unity government.

'Abbas is a client of the Americans'

Zawahiri's message was echoed in the internet statement. "We, a group of Muslim youth, created this group, praise God… we do not see any of the organizations that exist in Palestine as being affiliated to Islam. They are only affiliated to special interests," the message added.

The user who posted the message, calling himself Abu Ahmad, accused Hamas of allying itself to a "secular Fatah."

"Abbas is a client of the Americans, and (PA security chief Muhammad) Dahlan is a client of the Zionists," he wrote.

The group's statement asked Muslims around the world for support, and expressed a desire to "become holy fighters for the sake of God and Islam."

The statement received a plethora of support by online jihad members. "God bless you brother, and may he protect you on the road ahead of you," wrote one user. "Hamas has lost the privileges of God and the true path," he added.

Another Palestinian posting on the forum, who appears to be a supporter of Hamas, was critical of the announcement. "My brother should not flaunt his group at the expense of another group," he wrote. "We have our ideas and strategies, and you have forgotten that the truce (with Israel) has given us time... You have to prepare to move beyond faith, and prepare militarily," he added.