World leaders breathe sigh of relief over bin Laden hitIslamists: Bin Laden death will not mute Jihad call"Getting rid of bin Laden is good for the cause of peace worldwide but what counts is to overcome the discourse and the methods -- the violent methods -- that were created and encouraged by bin Laden and others in the world," PA spokesman Ghassan Khatib said.Palestinians hit the headlines after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, carried out by al Qaida, when a small group were filmed celebrating in East Jerusalem.At the time, there were bigger demonstrations in the Gaza Strip in support of the attacks. Palestinians partly blame their national plight on US support for Israel.However, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat banned such public displays and voiced sympathy for the dead in the United States.In Ramallah, the PA's view was shared by Ahmed Saleh, a 58-year-old retired Palestinian. "The world is better without bin Laden. It has removed a pillar of evil from the world," he said. "His heinous actions were exploited to allow hostile policies toward the Arabs and Muslims."But Umm Mohammed, a veiled woman, said she hoped news of bin Laden's death was a lie. "God willing, he will continue to conquer the West," she said.In Gaza, Hamas now faces a challenge from al Qaida-inspired groups that consider it too moderate. One such group was behind last month's killing of a pro-Palestinian Italian activist in the territory.Abdel-Qader Abu Shaaban, a 53-year-old Palestinian from Gaza, described bin Laden's killing as "a very criminal act"."This is not a victory. If they assassinated bin Laden, there will be others stronger than him: politicians and military people," he said.
PA hails bin Laden death, Hamas calls it 'assassination'
PA spokesperson Ghassan Khatib releases statement welcoming death of al Qaida leader; Hamas refers to killing as "assassination" of a "holy warrior."
World leaders breathe sigh of relief over bin Laden hitIslamists: Bin Laden death will not mute Jihad call"Getting rid of bin Laden is good for the cause of peace worldwide but what counts is to overcome the discourse and the methods -- the violent methods -- that were created and encouraged by bin Laden and others in the world," PA spokesman Ghassan Khatib said.Palestinians hit the headlines after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, carried out by al Qaida, when a small group were filmed celebrating in East Jerusalem.At the time, there were bigger demonstrations in the Gaza Strip in support of the attacks. Palestinians partly blame their national plight on US support for Israel.However, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat banned such public displays and voiced sympathy for the dead in the United States.In Ramallah, the PA's view was shared by Ahmed Saleh, a 58-year-old retired Palestinian. "The world is better without bin Laden. It has removed a pillar of evil from the world," he said. "His heinous actions were exploited to allow hostile policies toward the Arabs and Muslims."But Umm Mohammed, a veiled woman, said she hoped news of bin Laden's death was a lie. "God willing, he will continue to conquer the West," she said.In Gaza, Hamas now faces a challenge from al Qaida-inspired groups that consider it too moderate. One such group was behind last month's killing of a pro-Palestinian Italian activist in the territory.Abdel-Qader Abu Shaaban, a 53-year-old Palestinian from Gaza, described bin Laden's killing as "a very criminal act"."This is not a victory. If they assassinated bin Laden, there will be others stronger than him: politicians and military people," he said.