Palestinians Order Government Workers to
Rally for Saddam

August 23, 2002

GAZA CITY — The Palestinian Authority has helped organize demonstrations in support of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Palestinian sources said PA officials have joined rallies in several cities in the Gaza Strip backing Saddam against a U.S.-led attack on Baghdad.

The sources said PA officials have ordered employees of several government agencies to participate in the demonstrations.

The Palestinian rallies have included the burning of flags of Israel and the United States and shooting. Demonstrators have chanted appeals for Saddam to launch missile attacks against Israel.

The demonstrations have also included posters of Saddam and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. Arafat backed Saddam in the 1991 Gulf war.

The pro-Saddam demonstrations began last week in Gaza City and are being led by the ruling Fatah movement. Most of the mid-level and senior positions in the PA are manned by Fatah members.

Iraq has sent more than $30 million to finance the Palestinian insurgency war against Israel. Much of the money has gone to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.

Palestinian sources said families of suicide attackers have received between $25,000 and $30,000 from Baghdad. The families of others killed in the Palestinian war have received about $10,000.
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