In an interview aired Tuesday, the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov told Russian television network RT that Arab nations in the Middle East should join forces to attack Israel.
The interview was reported in Israeli sources, including Maariv and the Jerusalem Post.
According to the Post, Kadyrov owns a soccer team called FC Akhmat Grozny, which played against Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem FC in 2013.
Prior to the match, Kadyrov made comments to the Israeli press that appeared to stoke religious tensions between Jews and Muslims.
In a meeting in Jordan in August, Kadyrov called Jews “the main enemy of Islam,” reported Arutz 7, claiming that the founder of Islam, Muhammed, had “killed Jews more than any other people.”
Around 95% of the citizens of the Chechen Republic are Muslim, including Kadyrov.
The son of a former assassinated Chechen leader, Kadyrov advocates honor killings of women, supports polygamy and was accused of participating in a lewd video involving alleged prostitutes in 2006.
Among the cultural events Kadyrov has promoted are a mixed martial arts tournament involving children and a lavish televised 35th birthday party attended by Western celebrities such as Hilary Swank and Seal. {eoa}
This article originally appeared at United With Israel.
