The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Cairo

Osama bin Laden says in a new message that al-Qaida will continue its holy war against Israel and its allies until it liberates Palestine.

Friday's message comes as President Bush wraps up his visit to Israel to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state.

Bin Laden says the fight for the Palestinian cause is the most important factor driving al-Qaida's war with the West and fueled the Sept. 11 attacks. The authenticity of the close to 10 minute message could not be verified, but it was posted on a Web site commonly used by al-Qaida.

Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden slammed Western leaders for taking part in Israel's 60th birthday celebrations and vowed that Muslims would not give up "one inch of Palestine," in an audio message Friday. "The participation of Western leaders with the Jews in this celebration confirms that the West supports this ugly Jewish occupation of our lands and that they stand in the Israelis' trench against us," Bin Laden said in the "message to Western peoples" posted on the Internet. "We will continue the fight against the Israelis and their alliest and we will not give up one inch of Palestine, God willing, as long as there is one sincere Muslim on this earth," the message added.