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| Palestinian Attitude Factsheet on Terrorist Attack Issues After the horrific tragedy, media outlets
in the US repeatedly aired a clip of a few Palestinians rejoicing.
However, there was hardly any reporting in the news of the following
items: The terrorist act was strongly condemned by every single Palestinian organization including Fatah, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hamas, Workers Unions and Committees, Human Right Organizations (AlHaq, Law, Palestine Center for Human Rights), student associations, municipalities, mosques and churches, etc. The attack was also condemned by every single Arab American, Muslim American, and countless other human rights organizations who support and/or work for Palestinian human rights Palestinian Americans living in Palestine
issued a statement in which they reported that all messages they received
from other Palestinians were of sorrow and concern. Palestinian lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi told a news conference the celebrations were "misguided" and "aberrations" motivated by a feeling among Palestinians that they have been victims of U.S. backing for Israel. Palestinian analyst Ghassan al-Khatib said the “human tragedy'' in the United States should not be exploited for political gains by making Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims look like the "bad guys.” The vast majority of Palestinians condemned and were horrified and shocked by the terrorist attacks and identified with the victims (as victims themselves). We won't know the exact numbers for sometime but there are likely dozens if not hundreds of Muslim and Arab Americans killed in these despicable terrorist attacks. Many are still missing and we pray that they will be found safe. The US Consul General in Jerusalem reported that he has received a huge stack of faxes from Palestinians and Palestinian organizations expressing condolences, grief and solidarity. He himself was pained to see that the media chose to focus on the sensational images of a few Palestinians rejoicing. The Palestine Legislative Council condemned the terrorist attack on the United States and sent an urgent letter of condolences to Mr. J Dennis Hasterd, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Palestinians in Occupied East Jerusalem held candle-light vigils on 12 and 14 September to express their grief and solidarity with the American families struck by this tragedy. Jerusalem University students, along with the President of the University and the Deans of the various faculty, began a blood donation drive in occupied Jerusalem. Students and professors went to hospitals in the occupied city, in order to donate blood for the American victims who need it. 1 million Palestinian students in the Occupied Territory, including Jerusalem, stood five minutes in silence to express their solidarity with the hundreds of American children who have been struck by this tragedy, which resembles in its shocking effects their daily sufferings. Throughout the US, Arab and Muslim
Americans joined other American in solidarity vigils and prayers even when
some of those members were attacked and/or frightened by rhetoric being
espoused in the media Meanwhile: Georgia Senator Zell Miller's stated "I say bomb the hell out of them. If there's collateral damage, so be it. They certainly found our civilians to be expendable." [NY Times 9/13/01]. Asked tonight what the attack meant for
relations between the United States and Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, the
former prime minister, replied: 'It's very good.' Then he edited himself:
'Well, not very good, but it will generate immediate sympathy.' New York
Times, 12 September 2001, p. A22: While the media's attention was diverted by
the tragedy, Israeli forces stormed the Palestinian cities of Jenin and
later Jericho killing scores of people, injuring over 120, and demolishing
many homes and other buildings. For other information, see Source: For more information contact: |