Arafat misleads the world about his relationship to terror organizations. Arafat´s message in English to Bush: Terror organizations outlawed. Arafat´s message to Palestinians: The PA and the terror organizations are united.

Written by Itamar Marcus and Ruthie Blum - Palestinian Media Watch pmw@netvision.net.il

Background:

The Palestinian Authority continues to mock the United States and Israel, sending well publicized promises to President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon that it is outlawing terrorist organizations, while sending strong messages of solidarity with the terrorists to the Palestinians. In public displays of adherence to American pressure, the Palestinian Authority declared Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine illegal organizations. Television crews were even invited to film the closing of the organizations´ offices.

However, yesterday the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine held a ceremony in honor of its 34th anniversary. Not only did the PA permit the celebration of the "outlawed" organization, but Yasser Arafat sent his Cabinet Secretary to deliver a speech in his name, praising the terrorist organization and lauding the unity of "all [Palestinian] factions". A representative of Hamas also attended.

Furthermore, to guarantee that the message of unity reach a wider audience, today´s official Palestinian Authority daily published a lengthy front-page article covering the ceremony in great detail. The article included a photo of PA Cabinet Secretary Ahmed Abed Al-Rahman speaking at the event, during which Arafat´s delegate expressed disdain for the US and Israel, and claimed that the "[international arena... is being handled] with wisdom and caution, in order to foil the conspiracy of Sharon and his American allies."

The text of the article:

Headline: "The PFLP anniversary rally was a display of national unity. [Cabinet Secretary] Abed Al-Rahman delivered the President´s address, and emphasized the fortitude and indivisibility of our nation, and its strength in facing the occupation."

"A ceremony marking the 34th anniversary of the establishment of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine turned into a celebration of national unity. During the ceremony, in which the Palestinian Authority and political groups (national and Islamic), as well as public works organizations, stressed their adherence to national unity and to the supreme interest of our people.[in attendance were] Ahmed Abed Al-Rahman - who attended as President Yasser Arafat´s representative - political and public figures, in addition to the leadership, top echelons and members of the Popular Front.

"Arafat´s representative, Cabinet Secretary Ahmed Abed Al-Rahman reiterated the statements made in Arafat´s speech regarding the Palestinian Authority´ s concern for the security, welfare and continuity of all the factions, and said that he views all the aggression against them as aggression against the Palestinian Authority.

"The Cabinet Secretary discussed the circumstances and changes in the international arena, and their influence on the Palestinian question and on the national struggle. He said that in spite of the hard line that has been adopted, [the international arena is being handled] with wisdom and caution, in order to foil the conspiracy of Sharon and his American allies." (PMW.ORG.IL 12/23/01)
[PA official daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 23, 2001]