From: wc4209@writer.yorku.ca (Irene Berkovich)
Subject: Re: Cat Steven's visit to Israel (& concert!)
Organization: Computer Assisted Writing Centre, York University, Toronto, Canada
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 05:54:40 GMT

In article <4842@copper.Denver.Colorado.EDU> aaldoubo@copper.denver.colorado.edu (Shaqeeqa) writes:
>In article <1993Jan4.033754.4597@newshub.ccs.yorku.ca> wc4209@writer.yorku.ca (Irene Berkovich) writes:
>>
>>Like I said, Cat Stevens did visit Israel.  See source below.
>>
>>NEWSDAY (ND) - Wednesday July 27, 1988
>>Edition: NASSAU AND SUFFOLK  Section: NEWS  Page: 09
>
>[deleted]
>
>Irene, you cited was from July 27,
>1988 and my article in s.c.j. referred to 1990.  I never stated that
>Yousef Islam *never* visited Israel - don't mix the two issues.

   You asked for my source stating Cat Stevens visiting Israel.  I
provided it.  No issue mixing.

>>Here is another article referring to the incident in 1990 when Mr. Islam 
>>was refused entry into Israel.  Most countries will refuse entry to 
>>individuals contributing materially to terrorist groups bent on murdering 
>>their citizens like Hamas sets out to do.  A neo-Nazi would also be barred.
>
>What evidence do you have to prove that Yousef Islam contributes to
>terrorist groups?  What terrorist groups are you referring to?  Most
>democratic countries refuse entry to those whom are affiliated with
>terrorist groups, and are known to be terrorists (committed actions of
>terrorism) themselves, not because of their political views.  Certainly,
>you cited from the article:
> 
>>    One  official,  who  spoke on condition of anonymity, said the passport
>>agents were acting on instructions from the Interior Ministry.
>>    Airport   officials  said  they  turned  away  Islam  for  his  alleged
>>preachings against the Jewish nation.
>
>So, it appears that they knew about Yousef Islam's plans to visit Israel
>and harrassed him for three/four hours even with the knowledge that they
>had no intentions of permitting his entry.  Alleged preachings?  Does this
>constitute terrorist activities in Israel's eyes, or is this another case
>of expurgation? 
>
>>    He has been in the headlines recently for supporting the death sentence
>>issued by Iran against author Salman Rushdie.
>
>So what does this have to do with his visit to the Holy Land?  Or does
>this somehow reaffirm the attitude that he is a 'dangerous' man?
>
>>(Not your average Moslem tourist by any means)
>
>According to the articles, he was planning to do a concert (my article
>quoted a Muslim festival), which is completely different than being
>an average 'tourist'.  You have absolutely no proof or justification
>for Israel's actions.


       You want sources showing Cat Stevens materially supports Hamas,
which Israel sees as a terrorist organization,  I'll give you sources.
The things I do for you Anisa!

--------------------------start article-----------------------------


Islamic Fundamentalists Gain Strength in West Bank, Gaza at Expense of PLO
Israel: Many Palestinians in occupied areas despair of the course of the
revolt and slow pace of diplomacy abroad.

Los Angeles Times (LT) - SUNDAY June 3, 1990
By: DANIEL WILLIAMS; TIMES STAFF WRITER
Edition: Home Edition   Page: 6  Pt. A  Col. 1

.......excerpted mid-way through article, too long to fully quote .....

      Last fall, Israeli authorities designated Hamas as an illegal
organization, and troops rounded up scores of activists. In January, Sheik
Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas, went on trial on charges of
ordering the soldiers' abductions and funneling money to the organization.

    Yassin denied the charges, although his lawyers pleaded that his client
views it as "not only his right but his duty to establish these
organizations to battle the occupation."

    The sheik also was charged with overseeing the executions of three
Palestinians suspected of vice and drug dealing. Such executions have been
a signature of Hamas, which views crime as an anti-Muslim disease caught
from Western culture.

    Yassin, 53, is reported to be in ill health and is paralyzed from the
neck down as a result of a sporting accident in his youth. Recurrent rumors
of his death have set off violent protests in Gaza, where he lives. The
trial has been delayed to await a written defense response to the charges.

    Hamas followers say funds for the movement come both from inside the
occupied land--through religious gifts--and from abroad. In papers filed in
court, Yassin was charged with collecting and distributing more than
$500,000 from foreign sources, mostly Jordan, Egypt and Britain, where a
donation was reported from Muslim activist Youssef Islam, the former rock
singer once known as *** Cat Stevens. ***
                    
    In the summer of 1988, Hamas issued a statement of policy that asserted
that all historic Palestine is indivisible Islamic land. The document
reviled Jews and said no compromise could be reached with them.

    "When have infidels ever dealt justly with (Muslim) believers?" the
covenant asked.

     Islamic Jihad, whose name means Islamic Holy War, also rejects the
PLO's political line of dividing the land with Israel. PLO leaders insist
they have no control over the well-organized group; activists say they have
tried to dampen Islamic Jihad's enthusiasm for violence by pointing out
that "armed struggle" already has failed to end Israeli occupation and
could harm a PLO campaign to convince the world that it has peaceful
intentions.

     Islamic Jihad members reject such arguments, however. "We are not in
favor of the political process," one member in Gaza declared. "We should
change the intifada from stones to arms."


--------------------------------end off citation---------------------

So even though the Israel critics of this net do not agree that Hamas
is a terrorist organization, the State of Israel does, and therefore,
understandably refused a supporter entry to their country which is
certainly their perogative.

(Damn good singer though, although I think his politics aren't so hot)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast