Via Jewish Press:
This might be the funniest story so far this week: according to Egypt Independent, the head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, has announced that he will boycott the 8th Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue conference, a three-day event is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Al-Qaradawi said he opposes any discourse with Jews in principle. Sources close to the Sheikh tried to soften the message, saying he rejects Jews based on their political, rather than religious, affiliation. Which, means he will meet with Neturei Karta and, maybe, Satmar, but that’s where he draws the line.
Indeed, sources said al-Qaradawi has met with representatives from Naturei Karta.
Maybe Noam Chomsky and Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, too.
A statement from al-Qaradawi’s office last Monday said he took part in the first three conferences, at which only Muslims and Christians participated, but that he refused to attend when Jews began participating.
“How can we conduct a dialogue in a time when they seize lands, shed blood, burn farms, and demolish houses? Palestine’s conundrum has to be resolved first before we sit together at the same table,” the statement quoted al-Qaradawi as saying.