Arafat Donates Blood for U.S. Victims

Reuters ^ | 9/12/01 | Nidal al-Mughrabi

[Toddsterpatriot]

GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) donated blood Wednesday for the victims of the terror attacks in New York and Washington while other Palestinians held a vigil in Jerusalem in sympathy with the United States. ''God bless them,'' Arafat said as medical staff prepared to draw his blood in Gaza Shifa hospital. Palestinian officials said his donation would be the start of a blood drive for the casualties of Tuesday's attacks.

It was unclear if arrangements had been made to transfer the blood from Gaza and the West Bank to the United States. Thousands of Israelis donated blood Wednesday, health officials said.

Dozens of Palestinian men, women and children gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate in East Jerusalem, lighting candles and placing flowers along its walls.

Some of the placards they carried read: ``Terror is our common enemy'' and ``We are victims too.''

Tuesday, some in the West Bank city of Nablus and Arab East Jerusalem rejoiced publicly after hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (news - web sites).

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.

At least 569 Palestinians and 165 Israelis have been killed since a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation began last September after peace talks stalled.

Israel has used U.S.-made weapons, including F-16 warplanes and Apache helicopters, in some of the fighting.

HORROR MOVIE Many Palestinians spent a sleepless night glued to television sets as they followed the developments in New York and Washington.

``I thought I was watching a Hollywood horror movie...I couldn't believe my eyes,'' Mohammad Khaled, 20, a student in Ramallah in the West Bank, told Reuters.

``We the Palestinians are human beings and we don't celebrate when others are mourning,'' 42-year-old housewife Amal Qassem told Reuters from Bethlehem.

``Although Israel hits us every day with American Apache helicopters and uses American weapons to kill our people, we send our condolences to the families of the victims,'' she said.

Arafat condemned the attacks as a ``terrible act'' Tuesday and said he would help track down those responsible if asked by the Americans.

Palestinians have slammed the United States, alleging bias toward Israel in the Middle East conflict. They have burned U.S. flags during the nearly year-old revolt.

TRAGEDY SHOULD NOT BE EXPLOITED Many who spoke to Reuters Wednesday said they feared Israel would exploit the events in the United States to portray the Arabs and Muslims as ``terrorists.''

Arafat delayed a planned visit to Syria Wednesday in the aftermath of the attacks. Palestinian officials said he put on hold all plans and meetings and his office was monitoring developments with concern.

For some Palestinian officials the attacks dealt a heavy blow to hopes for direct U.S. involvement to end the bloodshed and revive the peace process.

``Of course we have differences with the Americans because America supports Israel but we do not accept this tragedy against the Americans. This is a terrible terrorist act,'' said Nadia Hamadan, 33, from Nablus.

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.''

[Toddsterpatriot]

By my calculations, we could get about 20 pints from this guy, not that we'd want to use it.

[az wildkitten]

Where is the "BARF ALERT"? Arafat is worried about his U.S. Aid check. He and his wife need new tablecloths.

[Serb5150]

Imagine the horror of finding out this man's blood was coursing through your veins...

[ValerieUSA]

His blood should have all been spilt yesterday. Why is he still alive to donate?
America - DEMAND every drop of Arafat's blood! Then pour it on his children.

[ml/nj]

Tell him we need about ten pints.

ML/NJ

[VoodooEconomist]

That's a start. How about four more pints?

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

of course it's a PR stunt from that sick sad bastard, but if it's healthy, we could use the blood.

[boomop1]

I would pi** in his bag and give it back to him the same way it was drawn.

[FourPeas]

That was my first thought, too.

[IowaHawk]

Thanks anyway, Yassir.

When it comes to blood - well, let's just say: don't call us. We'll call you.

[A Navy Vet]

Keep your damn murderous blood you lying fraud!

[ValerieUSA]

No, we can't use his blood. Idiot! Why not say, "If only Hirohito would have donated his blood for the stricken Americans at Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1948, it would have been so helpful."

[stars&bars]

Donating blood to help the American people? That makes my skin crawl. Help has not ever been on his mind until now and is obviously geared by total fear. What about NOT being involved in several terrorist attacks over the past however many years against not only the U.S. but other innocent countries. This is WAY TO LITTLE WAY TOO LATE!!!!! He must be shaking in his shoes about what retaliation will be taken against him personally and his country. Keep your blood!!! We don't want it on our soil!!!!

[Squantos]

We the Palestinians are human beings and we don't celebrate when others are mourning

Ohhhh that's rich.....as rich as 6 foot up a Bulls @ss ! YessirURfat is gonna give blood alright. But the needle is gonna be bigger than he'd like I suspect.

Regards from retired EOD.

[AppyPappy]

``Although Israel hits us every day with American Apache helicopters and uses American weapons to kill our people, we send our condolences to the families of the victims,'' she said.

Would you be happier if they were French??

Oh look, Yassar thinks he's Bill Clinton.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

I know Israeli soldiers who say that he is bi....and is known for beastality.ewwwwwwwwwww I wouldnt take his blood

[CheneyChick]

There is something very wrong with this picture.

[AmericanInTokyo]

He's passed his semen to camels.

Why not now pass his blood to Americans?

[chadwimc]

I would check that blood for AIDS/HIV

[SunnyUsa]

Arafat delayed a planned visit to Syria Wednesday in the aftermath of the attacks.

It's always good to stay out of harms BOMBS WAY!

I watched his reaction and it's clear he either is Out of Touch with the nutz he "leads", he's no longer their leader....or he just didn't have the guts to pull off something like this.