Palestinians vow to keep using suicide bombers
By Paul Martin
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
From its head office in Gaza City, an area where Israel has not
been active during "Operation Defensive Shield," the WAFA news agency
also called for Palestinians to reject American proposals.
While Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat held talks with
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell in Ramallah, the official news agency
issued a rare political comment attributed to its political editor, a
form of statement considered to reflect the official Palestinian
position.
The analysis warned that the United States should "anticipate and
be prepared to act to prevent the worst."
It said, "Fighting weaponry is possible, but fighting a human bomb
is impossible because it is the weapon of the individual and it is
hidden deep inside the individual's brain and it is unseen."
Mr. Arafat on Saturday issued a statement opposing attacks on
"civilians," but the news statement indicated a contrary attitude toward
suicide bombers.
There have been about 80 suicide bombings since Palestinians
launched their intifada in September 2000.
The al-Aqsa Brigade, a group belonging to the dominant Fatah
organization founded and headed by Mr. Arafat, has claimed
responsibility for the majority of suicide bombings and "suicide
shootings" in recent months.
In two of its latest operations, a young man and a 17-year-old girl
blew themselves up in Jerusalem - the last one shortly after Mr. Powell
arrived - killing six Israelis and injuring scores more, including an
Israeli-Arab bus driver.
After one of the Jerusalem attacks, Fatah's Bethlehem command
declared that it was "pleased to announce the successful action" by
18-year-old al-Aqsa member Mohammed Daraghmehn.
Yesterday's Palestinian commentary lashed out at Mr. Powell,
saying, "The USA minister should have come to the region with less
hatred to the Palestinians, and with much less spite toward the Arabs."
It said Mr. Powell had come to the region "regretfully reflecting
the typical USA position." The U.S. policy had not changed "even a
little bit," the statement said.
Declaring that Palestinians would not submit to American dictates,
it said the Palestinian leadership had "broken the chains of submission"
and was willing to pay the price, "high as it might be."
The statement said the "genocidal war" waged by Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon had left "no escape and no hope for future
reconciliation."
"His war is motivated by racism and total hatred to everything
called Palestinian," it said.
The statement also took to task the leadership of Arab states,
reflecting a widespread Palestinian view that they have been abandoned
by the rest of the Arab world.
It maintained that the United States was conspiring against
Palestinians in an alliance with some Arab states, whose leaders were
"strongly rejected by their people."
It warned that the United States would find itself unable to
"protect and immunize" these leaders. The statement ended, "God always
prevails."
