Osama Bin Laden has called for Jihad against Israel. In a 22-minute taped message, Laden also criticised Arab regimes for preventing their people who want to 'liberate Palestine'. It was not immediately clear when the message, posted on Islamist websites, was recorded, but it is dated in the current Islamic month."God has bestowed us with the patience to continue the path of jihad for another seven years. The question is, can America continue its war with us for several more decades to come? Reports and evidence would suggest otherwise.", Laden said.
The al-Qaeda leader, who has a $25 million bountry on his head and has been in hiding since the September 11 attacks in 2001, also said that the global financial crisis had exposed the waning influence of the United States and would in turn weaken its ally Israel.
If confirmed as genuine it would be the first such message fromthe al-Qaeda figurehead since May last year when a recording was released to coincide with Israel's 60th anniversary. However, Laden has not appeared in video footage since 2004, when he emerged days before the US election and addressed the American public. His failure to record a further video message has fuelled speculation that he is dead. If alive, he is likely to be hiding with other members of 'core' al-Qaeda in Pakistan in the lawless territory bordering Afghanistan.