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Arafat Closes Two Universities to Silence Islamic Militants
Yasser Arafat's government took two unprecedented steps Tuesday: it closed Gaza City's universities to silence Islamic militants and barred foreign reporters from the Gaza Strip to prevent coverage of the events.
The clampdown by the Palestinian Authority came a day after the deadliest internal Palestinian fighting in years, triggered by the militants' show of support for Osama bin Laden. Two civilians were killed and dozens of police and protesters hurt in a clash with guns, stones, clubs and tear gas.
Meanwhile Tuesday, Nabil Shaath, cabinet minister for international cooperation, sought to distance the Palestinian cause from remarks by bin Laden that were broadcast Sunday, saying "Palestinians are not prepared to be responsible for whoever says that for security to be achieved for the Palestinian people, one must strike not only America but everyone living there."
Referring to bin Laden, the Palestinian minister said, "If he thinks that he serves the Palestinian cause this way, then let him be responsible for his remarks. We will not be."
Shaath, in Doha for an Organization of the Islamic Conference meeting that starts Wednesday, said Palestinians did not reject bin Laden's linking of American security to Palestinian security.
Palestinians do reject their cause being used as justification for the killing of innocent people in the United States, however, he said.
"We do not want to be an excuse for anyone," he said. "Our cause is just and we want to achieve it justly. Because the Israelis are the terrorists."
The fighting pitted the Palestinian Authority against its longtime rival, the Islamic militant group Hamas, which has been behind the rallies in support of bin Laden following the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.
Arafat is trying to persuade Hamas to abide by a Sept. 26 truce with Israel, and could be using the clampdown to force it into compliance.
In recent weeks, Arafat had shied away from open confrontation with Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group, even though both had defied his orders to stop attacks on Israelis.
Palestinian analyst Ghassan Khatib said it was easier for Arafat to crack down on the militants over the pro-bin Laden rallies than over the cease-fire, which is largely unpopular.
Many Palestinians are dismayed by bin Laden's attempt in a televised address this week to create a link between the Palestinian cause and his war against the United States.
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