Following are excerpts from a fundraising speech delivered by Yemenite Cleric Abd Al-Majid Al-Zindani aired on Al-Jazeera TV on March 23, 2006:

Abd Al-Majid Al-Zindani: After efforts, policies, and plans failed, and when people almost despaired, the whole world was surprised by a certain decision of Hamas. What was the decision? An intifada. An Intifada?! Where?! In Palestine. In Palestine?! A cruel and oppressive force rules and controls every inch of it, and has prepared arsenals of all types of weapons, including nuclear weapons, which are not found elsewhere in the region. What kind of Intifada would it be? What would your weapon in resisting this occupation, with all its military, economic, and political resources and capabilities, in Palestine itself, among the allies of the Jewish state, and among those who follow it blindly and implement its policies, whether in the region or beyond? What would be your weapon? They said: We have a weapon. What is it? A stone, a stone. A stone?! A stone?! Yes, and you will see what a stone can do, when it is placed in the hand of a true believer. You will see.

So, they entered the fray, the Intifada began, and the balance of power began to change. [The Israelis] responded with their plan of striking terror: "We must strike terror [in the hearts] of these Palestinians, and make them die of fear in their homes, in their streets, and everywhere." What did the Palestinians have? They said: We have a response. What is your response? What will you do? Do you have anything that one could call a weapon, so we could say that there is a balance of military power? They said: We have something that will create a balance of terror. We will create this balance of terror in a way known to the believers. What is it? The martyrdom-seekers.

[...]

The arrogant and puffed up enemy began seeing something new - a method no one had thought of. Thus began the balance of terror, which gave the enemy a taste of fear and terror. This had an affect on its economy and its people, who began to leave and return to their countries of origin, from which they had come as invaders.

[...]

What is left for us to do is to ask ourselves: What is our duty towards this righteous jihad-fighting people, the vanguard of this nation? What is our duty? What is our obligation? What should we do for this... government? We used to say "movement," but today we say "government." What is our duty towards this government? Without a doubt, our primary duty is to pray, and then to provide support. The support we can provide at present is money. I was planning to say I would be the first to donate, but a woman beat me to it. I am proud to be the second. I am donating 200,000 rials to my brothers in the Hamas movement... I mean the Hamas government. I'm still used to saying "movement." The Hamas government is the Palestinian people's government today. It is the jihad-fighting, steadfast, resolute government of Palestine. I don't have it in my pocket right now, but I am making a pledge, and as you know, I keep my promises. So I'm donating 200,000 rials. What about you? What will you donate? Go ahead...

Crowd Member: I donate 15 million rials.

'Abd Al-Majid Al-Zindani and crowd: Allah Akbar!

'Abd Al-Majid Al-Zindani: Abu Luhum... Sheik Dirham Abu-Luhum is contributing 5 million rials.

Crowd: Allah Akbar!

'Abd Al-Majid Al-Zindani: Sheik Abdallah bin Hussein... Sheik Abd Al-Khaleq bin Shayhun - one million rials. Sheikh Hussein Al-Surmi - one million rials.

Crowd: Allah Akbar!

[...]

'Abd Al-Majid Al-Zindani: Now the guys will start collecting... No, no. Use scarves... Use scarves... Start from the back... Scarves.... Collect... Let's get to work... Let's donate... Spend... Spend for the sake of Allah...

[...]

Another woman, sister Nabila Al-Hakimi, who is a journalist, is contributing half a million rials. May Allah bless you. May Allah bestow beneficence on all of us.