Abbas government welcomes bin Laden death, Hamas deplores

[Douglas Carpenter]

Abbas government welcomes bin Laden death, Hamas deplore

In the occupied West Bank, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority welcomed the death in a U.S. raid in Pakistan of the al Qaeda leader and mastermind of the September 11 attacks.

"Getting rid of bin Laden is good for the cause of peace worldwide but what counts is to overcome the discourse and the methods -- the violent methods -- that were created and encouraged by bin Laden and others in the world," PA spokesman Ghassan Khatib said.

In the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, Haniyeh accused the United States of pursuing a policy based on "oppression and the shedding of Arab and Muslim blood."

.......

Political analysts in the Gaza Strip said Haniyeh was attempting through his remarks to cool tensions in the territory with al Qaeda-inspired Salafi groups. They consider Hamas too moderate and waged gun battles recently with its forces.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/02/us-binladen-palestinians-idUSTRE7414SS20110502

[Douglas Carpenter]

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