Jumblatt: Israel behind anti-Islam film

MP Walid Jumblatt accused Israel Friday of being behind a U.S.-made film insulting Islam’s Prophet Mohammad, saying it could be part of the Jewish state’s campaign against the re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama. “Despite the fact that I am not one of those who believe in conspiracy theories, under the banner of which the most heinous of crimes in Arab countries have been committed for decades, we cannot disregard Israel's participation in planning the launch of the film [and its responsibility for] its consequences,” Jumblatt said in a statement. The film depicts the Prophet Mohammad as a charlatan and a philanderer who authorized sexual abuse of children, among other nefarious acts. The film has caused outrage in several predominantly Muslim countries. In Libya, angry demonstrators stormed the U.S. consulate in Benghazi earlier this week in an attack that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and four other American officials. Jumblatt also said that the film could be “linked to [Israel’s Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu’s hatred for U.S. President Barack Obama and his fierce campaign against his re-election.” The head of the Progressive Socialist Party also raised questions about the timing of the film’s release; it coincides with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Lebanon, which Jumblatt said aims to reinforce Lebanon’s role as a democratic, diverse country in contrast to “Israel’s unilateral formula.” “We call on the United Nations and the international community to quickly pass a Security Council resolution that is similar to laws criminalizing anti-Semitism,” he said. Lebanon's top Christian and Muslim religious leaders also condemned the film, with Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani calling in Lebanese of all religions to "unite, stand hand in hand and urge the Lebanese state to take diplomatic measures and launch efforts at the international [level] on behalf of Muslims and Christians toward the United States, the country that fostered the production of this film.” (daily star)