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How the Islamic State (ISIL) Threatens the West

(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi - The Islamic State is an enemy of Western civilization because of its stringent implementation of Shariah (Islamic law), which includes mass killing of unbelievers and apostates, public beheading and crucifixion, chopping off thieves' hands and legs, flogging cigarette smokers and alcohol consumers, allowing sex slaves, stifling with an iron fist any opposition, and depriving people of basic human rights. The war in the Levant is not a political or territorial conflict that can be resolved by negotiations and compromise. The Islamic State leaves no doubt as to its determination to relentlessly conduct jihad to spread the rule of Islam and the word of Allah, first in the Middle East and later in Europe and North America. The cornerstone of the Islamic State's publicly reiterated strategic goal is to conquer Rome, the capital of Italy and home of the Vatican, in order to strike the symbol of Christianity. Spain is portrayed as a formerly Islamic occupied country, as are other parts of Europe, and all must be liberated. This is not a far-fetched, harmless fantasy; it is an actual plan of action. The Islamic State calls upon all Muslims to initiate attacks throughout the world with the explicit purpose of indiscriminately killing nonbelievers by all available means. The Islamic State threatens our strategic interests because of its unwavering determination to pursue a foreign policy of jihad in which Western civilization is the prime enemy. IDF Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi is a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and co-founder of the Orient Research Group Ltd. This report is based on his presentation to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada on December 9, 2014.
2014-12-10 00:00:00
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