Also off the wires. IAAMOAC, indeed.
Jon
Arafat horrified by attacks, Palestinians celebrate in streets
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Mohammed Daragheh
Sept. 11, 2001 | NABLUS, West Bank (AP) -- Thousands of Palestinians
celebrated Tuesday's terror attacks in the United States, chanting "God is
Great" and distributing candy to passers-by, even as their leader, Yasser
Arafat, said he was horrified.
The U.S. government has become increasingly unpopular in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip in the past year of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, with many
Palestinians accusing Washington of siding with Israel.
In the West Bank town of Nablus, about 3,000 people poured into the street
shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and
government targets in Washington.
Demonstrators distributed candy in a traditional gesture of celebration.
Several Palestinian gunmen shot in the air, while other marchers carried
Palestinian flags. Nawal Abdel Fatah, 48, wearing a long, black dress, threw
sweets in the air, saying she was happy because "America is the head of the
snake, America always stands by Israel in its war against us."
Her daughter Maysoon, 22, said she hoped the next attack would be launched
against Tel Aviv.
In traditionally Arab east Jerusalem, there was a smaller gathering of about
two dozen people, many of them young children led in chants by adults. Some
drivers passing the scene honked their horns and flashed victory signs from
their windows.
Arafat and his top advisers huddled at his seaside office in Gaza City,
watching the events unfold on television. Arafat later emerged to speak to
reporters.
"We are completely shocked. It's unbelievable," he said. "We completely
condemn this very dangerous attack, and I convey my condolences to the
American people, to the American president and to the American
administration, not only in my name but on behalf of the Palestinian people."
In the West Bank, meanwhile, the leader the Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine denied his group was involved in the attacks.
Qais Abdel Rahim was reacting to reports that two Arab satellite stations in
the Gulf had received anonymous claims of responsibility on behalf of the
DFLP, a radical PLO faction. Abdel Rahim said his group condemned the
attacks.
�
Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is
strictly prohibited
Copyright 2001 Salon.com
Salon, 22 4th Street, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone 415 645-9200 | Fax 415 645-9204
E-mail | Salon.com Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
