Incitement and Hatred against Israel

What is the Salafiyyah?

The Salafiyyah is, in essence, an extremist Moslem trend and ideology preaching a return to the “right path” of al-Salaf al-Salih, the founding fathers of Islam, considered the most virtuous, whose lives and deeds serve as an example to this day. At first glance it would seem to be merely a religious trend in favor of “born-again Moslems” who had rediscovered the Islamic True Path. However, in its more recent version, especially as it has developed during the past two decades, it has become interwoven with the trappings of radical fundamentalist Moslem activism (head-to-foot coverings for women, strictly segregated schools for boys and girls, strict orthodox adherence to religious practices, etc.).

It should also be noted that certain groups of Salafiyyah supporters justify and are even engaged in violence against “unbelievers,” whether they are non-Moslems or Moslems (including Arab and other Moslem heads of state, or senior political figures) who have strayed from the “true path” and abandoned their religious practices in favor of what they consider prohibited Western values. Today, the most prominent such group in the Middle East (including North Africa) is the Salafist Group for Preaching [or Call] and Combat (known by its French acronym GSPC). Responsible for most of the deadly terrorist acts perpetrated in Algeria in recent years, it is also suspected of being ideologically (and possibly practically) linked with al-Qaeda.

The da’wah, “Islamic preaching” (or rather, religious-political indoctrination), is part of the method for spreading Salafist Islam. Saudi Arabia is clearly a center for such activities, exporting extremist religious literature to the Islamic world in general and to the PA-administered territories in particular.


		Appendix F (2)

		What is the Salafiyyah?

		The Salafiyyah is, in essence, an extremist Moslem trend and ideology preaching a return to the “right path” of al-Salaf al-Salih, the founding fathers of Islam, considered the most virtuous, whose lives and deeds serve as an example to this day. At first glance it would seem to be merely a religious trend in favor of “born-again Moslems” who had rediscovered the Islamic True Path. However, in its more recent version, especially as it has developed during the past two decades, it has become interwoven with the trappings of radical fundamentalist Moslem activism (head-to-foot coverings for women, strictly segregated schools for boys and girls, strict orthodox adherence to religious practices, etc.).

		It should also be noted that certain groups of Salafiyyah supporters justify and are even engaged in violence against “unbelievers,” whether they are non-Moslems or Moslems (including Arab and other Moslem heads of state, or senior political figures) who have strayed from the “true path” and abandoned their religious practices in favor of what they consider prohibited Western values. Today, the most prominent such group in the Middle East (including North Africa) is the Salafist Group for Preaching [or Call] and Combat (known by its French acronym GSPC). Responsible for most of the deadly terrorist acts perpetrated in Algeria in recent years, it is also suspected of being ideologically (and possibly practically) linked with al-Qaeda.

		The da’wah, “Islamic preaching” (or rather, religious-political indoctrination), is part of the method for spreading Salafist Islam. Saudi Arabia is clearly a center for such activities, exporting extremist religious literature to the Islamic world in general and to the PA-administered territories in particular.


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