Terrorism’s American Gigolo: Richard Gere’s Palestinian Bedfellows
January 5, 2005
By Debbie Schlussel
When Richard Gere played an “American Gigolo” in 1980, who knew he’d actually become one, twenty-five years later?
This week, Gere is pulling tricks for jihadist Palestinian Johns supporting terror.
Gere’s not just claiming to speak for “the entire world” in ads for Sunday’s Palestinian elections.
He’s co-starring with two Palestinian terrorism supporters, Sheikh Taissir Rajab Al-Tamimi and Atallah (a/k/a Theodosios) Hanna.
In an ad sponsored by “One Voice” (more on that group, below), Gere appeals to Palestinian voters:
“Hi, I’m Richard Gere, and I’m speaking for the entire world. We’re with you during this election time. It’s really important: Get out and vote.”
Give him an Oscar for pretending to support democracy and freedom. But Gere’s supporting cast belies that:
There’s Al-Tamimi, the Palestinian Authority’s Chief of Judges and chairman of its Islamic law high council.
He uttered these words: “Islam is escalating and cannot be resisted. I pray that Allah may tear apart America just as the Soviet Union was torn apart.”
As the chief Palestinian judge and Muslim cleric, Al-Tamimi frequently appears on Palestinian Authority Television praising homicide bombers and spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and fatwas.
In 1994, Al-Tamimi said, “The Jews are destined to be persecuted, humiliated, and tortured forever, and it is a Muslim duty to see to it that they reap their due. No petty arguments must be allowed to divide us. Where Hitler failed, we must succeed.”
In August 2003, Al-Tamimi, a personal friend of Yasser Arafat (who appointed him Chief Islamic Judge), was arrested for inciting terrorism. Al-Tamimi’s extremist sermons are well-known for urging attacks on Israel and calling upon Arab nations to wage war. In March 2000, Al-Tamimi delivered a hate speech during the Pope’s visit to Jerusalem, accusing Israel of “genocide” and “strangling Jerusalem.” He called on Christians to join Muslims in a jihad to oust Jews from all of Israel.
In a recent Palestinian Authority appearance, Al-Tamimi defamed late Israeli Prime Minster Golda Meir, claiming she and the Israelis conspired to burn down the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He decreed Jews have no right to pray at the “Cave of the Patriarchs,” (where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are buried), one of the holiest of Jewish sites, which Al-Tamimi claims is a mosque. “Jews have no right to claim any bond or connection . . . . Jews are foreign interlopers.”
Richard Gere’s Phony Church Spokesman
Then there’s Gere’s other co-star in the Palestinian Get-Out-The-Vote ad: Hanna, the Greek Orthodox Church’s Arab spokesman in Jerusalem.
Well, sort of.
Hanna was fired by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate because of his open support for terrorism. But Hanna continues to claim he speaks on behalf of the Church, anyway.
He has repeatedly expressed his support for homicide bombers and “all forms and methods” of “resistance,” not only against Israel, but also U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
Hanna proudly paraded his views to HAMAS’ news agency:
'These martyrdom freedom fighters are the heroes of the people, and we are proud of them. We categorically reject suspicious attempts to cast suspicion on their deeds. They are not suicidal, as some are claiming. Nor are they terrorists, as others are claiming. They are resisting the occupation.”
Hanna also said, “We support the martyrdom [suicide] operations without any reservations, regardless of what skeptics and opponents of this form of resistance are saying.”
In a January 2003 sermon marking the Epiphany and the baptism of Jesus, Hanna said, “We do not believe in so-called 'peace with Israel' because peace cannot be made with Satan. Israel is the greatest Satan. No concession and no truce must be made [with Israel]. Any type of peace with this entity is concession, submission, and retreat from pan-Arab and national principles…. We encourage our youth to participate in the resistance, to carry out martyrdom attacks.”
Hanna has repeatedly traveled to Syria and Lebanon to meet with Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, the terrorist group that murdered over 300 U.S. Marines and civilians in Beirut.
Richard Gere claims he and these two terrorism supporters are speaking for the “entire world.” Do they speak for you?
Costanza as Middle East Scholar?
“One Voice,” the sponsor of Gere’s ads is also questionable. With Middle East experts like Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and Gere, the group is the invention of a sleazy, far-left Israeli businessman, Daniel Lubetzky. Lubetzky’s various “peace” initiatives—pandering to Islamists—have all failed over the years.
This one, Lubetzky’s latest, features board and coalition members like MTV’s “Rock the Vote,” Palestinian homicide bombing supporter Sari Nusseibeh, and Jim Zogby, head of the Saudi-funded (and pro-HAMAS/Hezbollah) Arab American Institute. It’s based on the dangerous idea that Palestinians from all over the territories should get to vote via computer on all Israeli issues – borders, refugees, water allocation, and Jerusalem. Actor Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) was touting this ludicrous plan on FOX News’ “O’Reilly Factor,” last year.
George Costanza as Middle East Scholar?!
When playing a male prostitute, Richard Gere should stick to the silver screen. While he may be a newly anointed “Officer” of the jihad, he’s definitely no “Gentleman.”