Palestinian refugees reacted with joy to news of terrorist attacks on the United States. Dozens of Palestinian refugees fired assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades into the air from the Ain al-Helweh refugee camp near Sidon.
Similar celebrations were held at the Shatila refugee camp in Beirut. United States television showed faces of happy Palestinians dancing in the streets and distributing candy in celebration of the attacks.
When news of the terrorist attacks reached the West Bank town of Nablus, thousands of people flooded the streets chanting “God is great.”
That sentiment was certainly not shared by all Arab people. Dan Wooding, founder and director of ASSIST Ministries, was in Jordan at the time of the attack for a conference of Christian journalists and leaders in Jerash.
“We have been overwhelmed by the kindness of the Jordanian people we have met since the horrendous terrorist attack yesterday,” said Wooding, who was told by a friend that Christians across Jordan were praying for America.
“While on a street, three young men came up to me and asked if I was American. When I said that I was, they said, ‘We are very sorry for what has happened.’”
As the Palestinian people celebrated in the streets, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat claimed to be horrified by the attack. “We are completely shocked. It’s unbelievable,” he said.
“We completely condemn this very dangerous attack, and I convey my condolences to the American people, to the American president and to the American administration, not only in my name but on behalf of the Palestinian people,” Arafat said.
The celebration of some Palestinians was quickly condemned by other Arabs around the world. “We have to reflect on why we, as Arabs and Muslims, have sunk so low as to glorify violence and destruction,” said Ahmed Bishara, a Kuwaiti political activist.
“Yes, we can differ with U.S. policy. Yes, the U.S. way of life may differ. But there’s no way for me as a human being to accept violence,” he said.
“The killing of innocent people is a despicable and heinous act that is accepted by neither religion nor human sensibility,” agreed Grand Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi of Cairo’s Al-Azhar, Islam’s most prominent religious institution.
International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin said, “We have heard from personnel working among Palestinians who say they have been inundated with phone calls from Palestinian people expressing sympathy.
“American media is projecting an image of the Muslim community rejoicing over the attacks, but our people know this does not represent most of the Palestinian people,” Rankin said.
Similar reports are flowing in from Southern Baptist workers serving in Muslim communities across the world, according to Rankin.
The Sabeel Liberation Theology group, a Palestinian organization in Jerusalem, said, “As Palestinians, who have been victims of terror, we are appalled at the reports of Palestinians celebrating your tragedy. Amidst all the pain and injustice that we have been living through the past year, we condemn all terrorist crimes that dehumanize and perpetrate evil.”
Leaders of the Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem said, “We are aware that the media has shown President Arafat’s shocked reaction to this act and his strong condemnation of it. Unfortunately, the media has also shown scenes of a few Palestinians celebrating this tragedy. We want you to know that these few do not speak for or represent the entire Palestinian people. What the media failed to acknowledge was the majority of Palestinians who were shocked, saddened and mournful.”
Egyptian political analyst Gehad Auda noted that the inappropriate celebrations were hurting the Palestinian cause.
“Celebration at the moment of grief is wrong, uncalled for, and it’s unwise,” he said. “America before was undecided. Now America will be decided — for the Israelis.”
But Rankin sees an opportunity in the crisis for Christians to lead others to God.
“Missionaries will tell you that religious extremism has been one of the greatest influences in turning people away from empty religion (and) toward God and the gospel of hope,” he said. (EP, BP)
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