An Arab-American's Thoughts on America's Tragedy: Re: Islam (and Palestinian reaction to the tragedy)

» AidaH - Re: Islam (and Palestinian reaction to the tragedy)

In response to message posted by Howie:

Thank you Terrie for your response to Howie's question. Every religion has its extremists but they don't represent the majority of those following the religion, and they certainly don't practice the faith the way it was meant to be practiced.

As for the Palestinian's rejoicing in American deaths. I am very disappointed in the media for its portrayal of the Palestinian reaction to the tragedy. While repeatedly showing the same clip of a group of Palestinians, mostly children, they failed to show us scenes of what else was happening around the region. Below is a press release from Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, which is the largest network of grassroots activists dedicated to Palestinian human rights.

This is what SHOULD have been reported:

14 September 2001

After the horrific tragedy, media outlets in the US repeatedly aired a clip of a few Palestinians rejoicing. However, there was hardly any
discussion or even 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 a candle-light vigils on 12 and 14 September to express their grief and solidarity with the American families struck by this tragedy. Mr. Abdel Qader Al-Husseini, son of the late Palestinian leader Faisal Al-Husseini led one of the vigils.

- Jerusalem University students, along with the President of the University and the Deans of the various Faculties, began a blood donation
drive in Occupied East Jerusalem. Students and
professors went to hospitals in the Occupied City, in order to donate blood for the American victims who need it.

- The 1 million Palestinian students in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Occupied East Jerusalem, stood five minutes in silence to express their solidarity with the hundreds of American children who have been struck
by this strategy, 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: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/12/intern...

- 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
http://electronicIntifada.net/coveragetr...

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, is the largest network of
grassroots activists dedicated to Palestinian human rights.

For more information contact:

Al-Awda, Palestine Right to Return Coalition
P.O. Box 1172
Orange, CT 06477
Fax: (717) 832-1123
E-mail: prrc@mail.com
WWW: http://al-awda.org
Press Room: http://al-awda.org/pressroom.htm

-- posted by AidaH