Palestinians condemn US reward for info on Gaza bombing

IMRA ^ | 11-1-03

[SJackson]

Palestinians condemn US reward for info on Gaza bombing

Khaled Abu Toameh Nov. 2, 2003 The Jerusalem Post

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid =1067749438064

The Palestinian Authority on Sunday condemned the US for offering a reward of up to $5 million for people providing information about the attack on American convoy in the Gaza Strip on October 15. Three US security guards were killed when a remote-controlled roadside bomb was detonated near their convoy in the northern Gaza Strip.

The offer, on the State Department's Web site http://www.rewardsforjustice.net , is for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the people responsible for the attack.

Col. Rashid Abu Shabak, commander of the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security Service in the Gaza Strip, lashed out at the US for making the offer, saying the PA was continuing its investigation into the case. "We strongly condemn this decision," he said. "This is an insulting announcement because it deals with a people whose mouth does not water in the face of financial temptations."

Abu Shabak, whose force has been entrusted with investigating the attack on the US convoy, said the Palestinians and their security forces refuse to play the role of mercenaries for the US or any other party. "We don't work as mercenaries for anyone," he added. "We operate according to our own security vision, which is to serve the interests of the Palestinian people and to provide them with security and calm."

He said the PA was continuing to investigate the incident, but declined to say whether any progress has been made. It's also not clear what happened to the eight Palestinians who were detained shortly after the attack. Sources in Gaza City said most of the detainees have been released.

The suspects belong to the Popular Resistance Committees, an alliance of different militias, including Fatah, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The Popular Resistance Committees intitially claimed responsibility for the killing of the three Americans, but backtracked after the PA strongly condemned the attack.

A senior PA official in Ramallah described the US offer as "imprudent" and a "flagrant intervention in Palestinian affairs." He added: "The offer is a stab in the back of the Palestinians, who are doing their utmost to capture the culprits."

An FBI delegation dispatched to investigate the incident met twice with members of the PA investigation team near the Erez checkpoint. Gen. Abdel Razak Majaydeh, the highest-ranking security official in the Gaza Strip who heads the PA investigation team, claimed on Sunday that the FBI delegation was satisfied with the cooperation of the PA security forces in the investigation.

The PA media has accused Israel of standing behind the attack on the American convoy with the aim of driving a wedge between the Palestinian Authority and the US. Senior PA officials have also accused Israel in private of being responsible for the attack.

[Semper Paratus]

The only reward the Palis approve of is when Jews are killed.

[buffyt]

I no longer have any respect for Palestinians. None, zero, zip. They just keep getting lower and lower.

[Publius6961]

These sandmaggots are so disconnected from reality, that I have to ask the serious question again.

Is there any place in the world that takes what they say or their press releases seriously?

It's like dealing with a large group of 8-year-olds, albeit lethal ones.

[Arpege92]

"This is an insulting announcement because it deals with people whose mouth does not water in the face of financial temptation."

If these murderer's actually believe that no Palestinian would come forward with information on this attack, then why are they complaining about it.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[Valin]

The Palestinian Authority on Sunday condemned the US for offering a reward of up to $5 million for people providing information about the attack on American convoy in the Gaza Strip on October 15.

Well then what say we up it to 6 million.
Or we could tell them to "Go away boy, you draw flys."

[yonif]

Of course they view it as insulting, because for the money to be received they would have to admit that the Palestinian Authority itself had something to do with planning and sponsoring the terror attack.

[mtbopfuyn]

Abu, go sit and spin.

[mewzilla]

I find it incredibly amusing that they're actually whining about this in public. Like we're gonna care what they think. Sheesh. Maroons.

[smith288]

Codemn all they want...condemning means nothing anymore anyways.

[Shryke]

Is there any place in the world that takes what they say or their press releases seriously?

Sadly, yes. The BBC, CNN, the EU, and on and on and on.

[Nachum]

The Palestinian Authority on Sunday condemned the US for offering a reward of up to $5 million for people providing information.....

What a waste of money. I am sure that they could have made the reward $100,000 (and two plane tickets to anywhere) and had the same response.

[mewzilla]

Sadly, yes. The BBC, CNN, the EU, and on and on and on.

Too true. Let's hope the Palestinians hold their breath waiting for their allies to do anything about it.

[skinkinthegrass]

Thanks..SJ, Is napalm still illegal?...Can we send this guy some?..

[SJackson]

What a waste of money. I am sure that they could have made the reward $100,000 (and two plane tickets to anywhere) and had the same response.

It's interesting to note that the State Dept. offers rewards for Americans murdered by terrorists in all nations, except, of course Israel. I guess the State Dept figures they get what they deserve.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"This is an insulting announcement because it deals with a people whose mouth does not water in the face of financial temptations."

Okay. This one really, really needs subtitles, or something... :)

[doug from upland]

Agreed. I now have them even lower than those in the RAT Underground. Now that is low.

[anotherview]

Of course they condemn the offer. If the truth comes out that all the Palestinian terror groups are interlinked and that the PA has a part in this all the aid for the Palestinians from America might stop. The EU, of course, would quietly congratulate the PA.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

What a waste of money. I am sure that they could have made the reward $100,000 (and two plane tickets to anywhere) and had the same response.

Save the $100K, just offer 'em a brand spankin' new Palestinian SUV!

,p>