The Palestinian Authority in recent weeks has taken the initiative of encouraging Arab women to assume active roles alongside Arab men, in carrying out violence against the Jewish State. Palestinian Media Watch (PMW - \"www.pmw.org.il\") has translated into English the text of several articles from official Palestinian Authority dailies, as well as television broadcasts, which glorify \"heroic acts of martyrdom\" carried out by Arab women. Since the beginning of the Oslo War 18 months ago, two Arab women have perpetrated separate suicide bombing attacks, killing one Israeli and injuring scores more. Excerpts from the PMW report:



An article appearing this week in the PA daily implores women to see their role as equal to that of men, including the following statement by an unidentified woman:

\"Her only wish is to carry out guerilla actions, so that her actions too would be added to other heroic acts done by women. She sighed, and wondered why women were not being drafted to the fight. Are women not man\'s partner? Are women not expected to be full partners in all of life\'s demands, including military ones..?!\" - [Al Hayat Al Jadida, March 11, 2002]



An article praising the two \"heroines\" who acted as suicide bombers in recent months:

\"Recently, the heroine Wafa Idris [the suicide bomber on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem] succeeded in carrying out the bombing in Jerusalem, and subsequently, the Martyr Da\'arin Abu Asiyah [suicide bombing at a roadblock]. These actions... attest to the Palestinian woman\'s capability to perform successful actions...\"



Palestinian Television [PATV] as well has recently praised the female suicide bombers. A rerun of an old clip was broadcast starring a female singer, with pictures of extreme violence in the background. The singer is suddenly transformed on the screen into a warrior wearing an army uniform; she continues singing and encouraging violence, singing of her desire to fall as a martyr:

Shake the earth / Raise the stones / Allah Aqbar, Oh, the young ones. / You will not be saved, O Zionist / From the volcano of my land\'s stones / You will not be saved, O Zionist / From the volcano of my land\'s stones. / You are the target of my eyes / I will even willingly fall as a shahid / Allah Aqbar...

- [PATV March 10, 2002]