CAIRO // Ayman al Zawahiri, who was announced as the new chief of al Qa'eda yesterday, will probably focus more on the Middle East as he seeks to revive the influence of the militant group in the aftermath of Osama bin Laden's death, a leading Islamist lawyer and former prison-mate of al Zawahiri said.
Montasser el Zayat, the Egyptian lawyer who has also written a book about his relationship with al Zawahiri, said: "I felt from the statements given by Mr al Zawahiri recently that he is going back to the old basis from which he first launched his actions. It is evident that he wants to communicate with all the Arab revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia and other countries about toppling regimes."
Mr el Zayat, who spent three years in prison with al Zawahiri after they were arrested as part of a sweep of Islamists following the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981, said that al Zawahiri's philosophy was originally focused on the "un-Islamic" regimes of the Middle East and North Africa. It was bin Laden's more grandiose ideas about "striking the snake on the head" that inspired him to join in the battle against the Western superpowers, such as the United States.
"He used to say that liberation of Jerusalem starts from Cairo," Mr el Zayat said. "This could be a possible focus for him."
In a video eulogy for bin Laden released earlier this month, al Zawahiri vowed to fight the United States and its allies to "expel the invaders from the land of Islam".
But more importantly, he linked the al Qa'eda cause to the uprisings across the region, calling on Muslims "to rise up and continue the struggle, persistence and devotion until all the corrupt and oppressive regimes imposed by the West are gone".
Al Qa'eda released a statement on a website yesterday that identified al Zawahiri - long identified as the second-in-command of the group - as the new head of the terrorist organisation. The move was widely expected and comes two months after US special forces killed bin Laden in an early morning raid on his compound in Pakistan.
"The general command of al Qa'eda announces, after consultations, the appointment of Sheikh Ayman al Zawahri as head of the group," the statement said. "We seek with the aid of God to call for the religion of truth and incite our nation to fight," the statement said.
Western intelligence analysts have said that al Zawahiri, who will turn 60 next week, is believed to be operating from somewhere near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Born into an upper middle class Egyptian family, he was trained as a surgeon in Cairo. He became immersed in Islamic radicalism and rose to become the head of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a group that was later merged into al Qa'eda in 1998.
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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