( CNN ) -- Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has apparently released a new audio message calling for a jihad , or holy war , against Israel for its Gaza campaign . Osama bin Laden , in an undated photo , apparently taped a message calling for jihad against Israel . The 22-minute message contains `` an invitation '' from bin Laden to take part in `` jihad to stop the aggression against Gaza . '' The audio message was posted on a radical Islamist Web site that has posted other statements from bin Laden in the past . CNN could not independently confirm the authenticity of the message , but the speaker 's voice was similar to other recordings that bin Laden has made . While not naming President-elect Barack Obama , bin Laden refers to the future of the United States in the face of the current global economic crisis . Watch as experts discuss Osama message » . `` [ America is ] now drowning in a global financial crisis , '' he said . `` They 're even begging all nations , small and large , for help . America is no longer feared by its enemies nor respected by its allies . `` The decline of the American power is one of the main reasons for Israel 's rushed and barbaric aggression on Gaza in a desperate attempt to take advantage of the last days of [ President ] Bush 's term in office . '' He appears , however , to refer to Obama , saying `` Bush leaves his successor with the worst inheritance ... two long guerrilla wars and no options . He either withdraws and faces military defeat , or carries on and drowns his nation in financial trouble . '' Watch Obama comment on bin Laden 's message » . The message also names Vice President-elect Joe Biden . `` Here is Biden , the vice president of the president-elect ... [ he ] says that the crisis is bigger than they expected and that the American economy , all of it , is open to collapse , '' bin Laden said . On December 20 , Biden said in an interview that the economy `` is in much worse shape than we thought it was in . '' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the message `` demonstrates [ bin Laden 's ] isolation and continued attempts to remain relevant at a time when al Qaeda 's ideology , mission and agenda are being questioned and challenged throughout the world . '' He noted that the message also appears to be `` an effort to raise money as part of [ al Qaeda 's ] ongoing propaganda campaign . '' `` The United States promotes an alternative , hopeful ideology while continuing to partner with over 90 countries to pursue terrorists wherever they are , '' Johndroe said . The last time bin Laden released an audio message was in mid-May , timed to coincide with Israel 's 60th anniversary . That message urged his followers to liberate Palestine . Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza on December 27 to stop Hamas rocket strikes on southern Israel . The death toll in Gaza was nearing 1,000 on Wednesday , including more than 300 children , according to Palestinian medical sources . The Israeli toll stood at 13 , including three civilians , according to Israeli police and military officials . Bin Laden , who is about 51 , is the head of the al Qaeda terrorist network , which was responsible for the September 11 , 2001 , attack on the United States that killed 2,751 people . He 's been in hiding since the U.S. assault on Afghanistan that followed the 9/11 attacks . The U.S. government is offering a $ 25 million reward for information leading to his capture . President Bush , whose term ends next week , told CNN 's Larry King on Tuesday that he remains optimistic that bin Laden would be found . Asked by King , `` Are we ever going to find bin Laden ? '' Bush replied : `` Yes , of course , absolutely . We 've got a lot of people out there looking for him , a lot of assets . You ca n't run forever . '' The message is important to the incoming U.S. president because it signifies that bin Laden is still `` out there , '' said Tim Roemer , a former Democratic congressman from Indiana who served on both the congressional and the presidential September 11 commissions . `` It 's a reminder of President-elect Obama 's inheritance of some of the difficult problems out there that he has to confront , '' said Roemer , who is president of the Center for National Policy . `` Al Qaeda is trying to be relevant with this tape , '' Roemer said . `` They seek competition with Hamas , Hezbollah , the ongoing battle between Israel and the Palestinians . ... `` This reminds us of what bin Laden said right after 9/11 . He said it was n't 19 Arab armies or 19 Arab states that attacked the United States . It was 19 post-graduate students . It reminds us how much the world has changed , and how many different threats are out there today . '' CNN 's Octavia Nasr and Suzanne Malveaux contributed to this report .
Hezbollah says Web message shows Web isolation . Message says global economic crisis is reducing Gaza power in the world . Audio message posted on radical Islamist bin Laden urges jihad in Gaza 's defense . Speaker 's voice was similar to recordings that bin Laden 's has made in the past .