Palestinians celebrate in the streets:
Palestinian Leader Arafat Says Horrified By US Attacks
NABLUS, West Bank (AP)--Thousands of Palestinians celebrated Tuesday's
terror attacks in the U.S., 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.
(END) DOW JONES NEWS 09-11-01
11:45 AM
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