Voice of Palestine Honors Rather Than Condemns Bus Bomber

The official PA radio is contradicting official condemnation of the latest bus bombing. From IMRA:

Voice of Palestine Radio (VOP) (that is run by the PA and under the tight control of Yasser Arafat) referred to the man who committed the bombing of the bus in Jerusalem yesterday as a martyr ("shahid") in their news programs. They treated him royally both yesterday and today.

Shahid is an honorary term given to someone who dies in battle. It is not conferred to a criminal. If the act was considered a criminal act then he would not be termed a martyr "shahid".

It should also be noted that the pro forma condemnation broadcast in Arabic on VOP never said anything against the person who carried out the attack itself. Instead the "condemnation" explained the act - blaming it on Israel and voicing concern regarding its timing.

It is also noteworthy that yesterday's bombing was repeatedly described on VOP as "an explosive operation" without any negative terminology associated
with it. In sharp contrast, the announcement of the demolition of the "martyr's house" by the IDF was termed "barbaric" with VOP urging Palestinians to come out of their houses to show resistance to the "racist Israeli threats".

At 6:00 PM last night, right before the main evening news program last night, PA TV broadcast film clips openly encouraging attacks against Israelis. For example, they ran a clip of a small child no older than 6 - 7 years old singing to himself "by stone or by knife I will attack the enemy".

The clip was several minutes long and this chorus was repeated many times. The clip demonstrates that the PA is actively encouraging attacks - even by youths.

Posted by Robert at February 24, 2004 8:52 AM
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