| ALBANY -- An Italian imam
known for his criticism of suicide bombings and support for
Israel will speak tonight at the University at Albany.
Sheikh Abdul Hadi Palazzi, 47, heads the Cultural Institute
of the Italian Islamic Community and lives near the Vatican in
Rome.
Jewish Educational
Resources of New York and the UAlbany Zionist Freedom Alliance
are sponsoring Palazzi's talk on "The Jewish-Muslim Dialogue
and the Question of Jerusalem." It is set for 7:45 p.m. at the
UAlbany ballroom.
In an e-mail interview with the Times Union, Palazzi talked
about his support for Israeli control of Jerusalem, his belief
that removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq was "a
necessary step," and his dislike for Pope Benedict XVI's
"political approach."
"I think the only solution which can safeguard peaceful
coexistence, prosperity and interfaith dialogue is keeping
Jerusalem as undivided Capital of the State of Israel, under
exclusive Israeli sovereignty," he wrote.
"Accepting any role of the Palestinian Authority in
administering Jerusalem would mean extending to Jerusalem
those forms of terror which are common in Gaza," Palazzi
added.
He criticized Pope Benedict XVI, who makes his first papal
visit to the U.S. this month, for having "no sense of respect
for Italy as an autonomous and secular democracy."
"He wants to increase the interference of the Catholic
Church inside our domestic policy, and pretend to dictate to
our politicians what to do and what not to do. This attitude
is worrying Catholics, too, since they see that tendency as a
return to Catholic fundamentalism, thus canceling the conquest
of the Council Vatican II." Jewish organizations have praised
the Sunni cleric. The Canadian Islamic Congress once denounced
him as an "anti-Islam campaigner."
A Georgetown University Islamic studies professor told a
Canadian newspaper his interpretations of the Koran were "not
credible," the Religion News Service said. | 
STORY
TOOLS 
