GAZA, Nov 11: Among the first to condemn the suicide bombings in Jordan were Palestinian militants anxious to show they have no sympathy with Al Qaeda’s choice of targets, even if the group was emulating their own bomb-belt tactics.
There was no suggestion the Palestinian factions were renouncing the validity of blowing up Israeli civilians, but their swift rejection of the Amman attacks demonstrated their desire to put daylight between themselves and Al Qaeda militants.
“We condemn the style, the random killings,” said Nafez Azzam of the Islamic Jihad group, which killed six Israeli market traders and shoppers in a suicide bombing last month.
“We condemn the killing of innocents anywhere regardless of belief and religion,” said Azzam.
But he said “innocents” did not cover Israeli civilians, all seen by Islamic Jihad as enemies in a state it wants to destroy.
Israel is not alone in viewing this distinction as repugnant. The Palestinian Authority does not accept it, still less the international community or human rights groups.
“The double standard that exists in certain quarters that suicide bombing Jews is legitimate and suicide bombing others is not is simply that — a double standard — which should be condemned by everyone,” said Mark Regev of Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
Although branded as terrorists by the United States and many Western countries, the Palestinian militant groups command substantial support in the Arab world.
Even in the West, they hope to court some political legitimacy as factions waging a war only against Israel, and very different from Al Qaeda or allied groups ready to target Muslims and non-Muslims alike in a global “holy war”.
Palestinian militants limit attacks to Israeli Jews.
“There is an international agreement Al Qaeda is a terrorist group,” said analyst Hani Habib in Gaza.
“The Palestinian resistance wants to draw the line that it is different ... (but) world public opinion may find it hard to differentiate between attacks.”
Palestinian factions say that they are forced to use suicide tactics to counter the might of Israel’s military, which has often carried out deadly raids in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Given that most Jordanians have Palestinian roots, it was no surprise that many Palestinians were among the dead and wounded.
“We come from a background of resistance, but we cannot accept this method,” said Husni Da’as, 46, mourning in the West Bank for relatives killed in Amman. “Even against Israelis”.
Palestinian sentiment turned sharply against suicide bombings after a truce agreed nine months ago allowed a spell of relative calm that has left few hankering for a return to the harshest days of the uprising.
Hamas, which like Jihad is sworn to destroying Israel and has been behind many of the deadliest suicide attacks, urged Al Qaeda to limit itself to striking against the United States in Iraq and to avoid killing Arabs and other Muslims.
“Such condemned bombings will be at the expense of Iraqi and Palestinian causes,” said Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri.
ARAFAT REMEMBERED: Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians gathered near Yasser Arafat’s grave in his old West Bank compound on Friday for a commemoration of their iconic leader’s death exactly one year ago.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, his successor, led a rally attended by top officials from major factions and a handful of foreign diplomats in honour of Arafat, who died aged 75 having failed to realise his dream of a Palestinian state.
The focus of the official commemoration was Arafat’s old headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah where he spent his final years isolated and encircled by the Israeli army.
“I renew the pledge to continue on the path that he started and exert whatever efforts are needed to raise the flag of Palestine on the walls, the minarets and the churches of Jerusalem,” Abbas said in a speech at the rally.
Abbas, like many in the crowd, wore the traditional Palestinian “keffiyeh” scarf that became Arafat’s trademark. Pictures of Arafat were held by many in the crowd.
Abbas earlier laid the foundation-stone for a new mausoleum complex while Quaranic verses were broadcast over loudspeakers.—Reuters
GAZA, Nov 11: Among the first to condemn the suicide bombings in Jordan were Palestinian militants anxious to show they have no sympathy with Al Qaeda’s choice of targets, even if the group was emulating their own bomb-belt tactics.
