Summary and Analysis The Voice of Palestine began its special Feast of Sacrifice (‘Eid al-Adha) programming with prayers and sermon from the Al-Aqsa, including a call from the mosque sheikh “to liberate Jerusalem” and to support Iraq in its struggle against the United States.

In a somewhat unusual move, V.O.P. quoted from the highlights of the mosque speech throughout the day, noting the Sheikh “called for a continuation of the struggle and the holy war” (Arabic: nidal and jihad).

No Palestinian official commented, condemned or even signaled disapproval of the bomb attack inside Netanya yesterday, and there was no call for restraint in any shape or form.

But in a very interesting development, during a special edition of the morning dialogue show hosted by senior PA commentator Youssef al-Kazaz, the V.O.P. raised the question that many outside the PA are talking about the imminent collapse of the PA. The idea was dismissed by PA Minister Nabil Amr, but the very fact that the issue was raised-and by a commentator who is sycophantically tied to Arafat-means that the PA wanted the question raised and dismissed.

Why? It wanted the issue dismissed for the home Palestinian audience which it needs to believe that Arafat is in control. But it also could not ignore that the issue has been raised by the “Peace Camp” in Israel and by many European observers (perhaps after being briefed by the PA). Indeed, the PA may have wanted the issue raised out of a “weakness is strength” view.

The PA faces imminent collapse unless it does two things:

  • It lets the PA off the hook of responsibility for violence emanating from PA territory;
  • And it puts pressure on Israel to ease up on economic pressure and to shelve possible military escalations, while increasing pressure for international intervention for and “protection” of the Palestinians.

Monday Morning Headlines: Feast of Sacrifice, March 5, 8:00 a.m.

  • “A martyr in Jenin welcomes (greets) the first day of the Feast. The martyr is Osama Ibrahim ‘Id;
  • Thousands brave the siege and attend the Feast prayers in the holy Al-Aqsa mosque;
  • “His Excellency says fate will bring Palestinian flags atop the mosques and churches of Jerusalem despite Israeli aggression;
  • The National and Islamic forces call for setting aside the Feast days for visiting the graves and families of the martyrs;
  • Occupation forces have cordoned off the village of Rafat, keeping it under curfew for the last eight days;
  • In Israeli maneuvers, there are increased road blocks on the routes;
  • Sharon backs not transferring funds owed by Israel to the National Authority, and presents his government to the Knesset his Wednesday.”

Quote of the Day

“We celebrate with you the opening day of the Feast, though the tyrannical Occupation presses its ugly imprint on everything Palestinian.” (Jamal Miari, V.O.P. anchorman, 8:05 a.m., in lead-in from morning news headlines to the news in detail)

Quote from live statement by Yasser Arafat in “stake-out” after mosque prayers in Gaza:

“On this occasion of the Feast, Palestine, the Arab nation, the Muslim nation, (we say) this (Palestinian) people, despite the siege and the dangerous military escalation and these circumstances and confrontations we will continue until Palestinian flags fly atop the mosques and churches of Jerusalem, and they will be seen from afar.”

Quotes from Monday Morning Feast Commentary, Youssef al-Kazaz, Senior V.O.P. Commentator

“The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation congratulates His Excellency President Yasser Arafat on the occasion of the Feast of the Sacrifice. And may God grant our Arab and Muslim peoples goodness and blessings, and may the Palestinian people realize their rights-freedom, independence and the return (of the refugees), as well as the establishment of their state with holy Jerusalem as its capital. We at Palestinian Broadcasting call for the grace of God for our martyrs and for his healing for the wounded and for freedom for our prisoners. And our Palestinian people will continue their glorious intifada in the face of unprecedented escalation by the Israeli Occupation and its settlers against our people. We will always remember our martyrs who sacrificed themselves for us, defending this homeland, Palestine, this homeland of the birth (of Jesus) and the night journey (of Muhammad). They fell in the path of freedom and independence. May God grant that by the next Feast we have realized our goals, liberating the land, establishing an independent Palestinian state with holy Jerusalem as its capital under the leadership of His Excellency President Yasser Arafat, president of the state of Palestine.”

Interview with PA Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nabil Amr

Question: “Professor Nabil, what do you say about all the talk in international and Arab circles about the collapse of the (Palestinian) National Authority?”

Answer: “There are many causes for the talk in this direction. There are some who would like to see that day. One has to remember that the National Authority is not a traditional organization or a typical construction which can be pressed to collapse. It has faced many pressures since the establishment of the PLO. There are those who are afraid such a collapse would lead to great explosion in many places. But the truth is that whatever the difficult circumstances, the collapse that some are waiting for is not in the offing. “

Question: “Anything that happens inside the Green Line, Israel blames President Yasser Arafat.”

Answer: “Well, brother Youssef, the charge the Israelis throw at Yasser Arafat or the National Authority is the best indication, the strongest indication of Israeli weakness, the weakness of their security might. We say the Israelis are choosing an impossible solution to the security matter and that is the military solution. They are trying to put the entire police in the streets. This state that considers itself the most important state, the most powerful in the Middle East believes its security lies in the hands of Yasser Arafat.”

12 Noon News Bulletin Headlines

  • “After the Feast prayers, thousands accompany to burial the exalted martyr Osama Ibrahim Id, 23, from the Jenin Camp who fell early today before Occupation bullets during a heavy bombardment of populated neighborhoods;
  • His Excellency President Yasser Arafat asserts that our people are ready to continue with their fate until our flags fly over the mosques and churches of holy Jerusalem, the capital of the independent state. His excellency’s remarks came in response to reporters’ questions after he attended the Feast prayers in the Mosque of the Martyr Abu Jihad (a.k.a. Khalil al-Wazir, Arafat’s late military deputy, killed by Israel) in the Sheikh Ijleen neighborhood of Gaza, where the mosque sermon speaker, Dr. Muhammad Nijm called for re-doubling efforts for the sak Thousands attended the Feast prayers in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the sermon speaker in Al Aqsa, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein strongly criticized the tyrannical Israeli siege on Palestinian cities, towns and villages and camps. And the sermon giver said the siege and the oppression would not prevent our people from continuing their struggle (nidal) and holy war (jihad) to free their land and to establish an independent Palestinian state with holy Jerusalem as its capital;
  • More than a million passed by Mount Arafat last night to Wadi Mina (part of the Haj pilgrimage route) near holy Mecca.;
  • Feisal Husseini, holder of the Jerusalem portfolio (in the PLO) asserts that the Palestinian intifada against the Israeli occupation is the expression of a political choice aimed at ending the occupation and sweeping it from our occupied land. Husseini called on our people to continue its resistance;
  • Two citizens wounded, one seriously, in Khan Yunis from Occupation fire;
  • Occupation forces burst in into mosque in Rafat village during Feast prayers and attack worshipers;
  • Ariel Sharon will present his government in the Knesset on Wednesday.”

Monday Evening Headlines, March 5

  • “Occupation forces continue their aggression and wound a citizen;
  • National security forces urge citizens to report any artillery bombardments using bombs or bullets by the Occupation;
  • His Excellency President Yasser Arafat receives a second letter from American president and his secretary of state;
  • The Likud finalizes is efforts to form a government, and it will present it to the Knesset tomorrow;
  • Iraqi missile forces fire on American and British planes.”

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR