CNN and other world media repeatedly reported that the Palestinian Authority had \"strongly condemned\" the attack. In fact, however, the PA statement mainly emphasized the attack\'s bad \"timing\" and its negative \"public relations\" value, but said nothing about the shedding of innocent blood. The statement read,
\"The Palestinian leadership strongly condemns the violent attack against Israeli civilians in a public hall in Rishon LeTzion. The timing of this dangerous attack against Israeli civilians at a time when Sharon meets with the American president is aimed at supporting Sharon\'s claims it is impossible to make peace with the Palestinian people. And to stamp our people with terrorism and to excuse Sharon and his government from spilling Palestinian blood in the Jenin refugee camp and all of the areas, cities, camps and villages that did not stop until this hour... And we will not go easy with these groups that commit these operations that harm our people and our cause severely.. These attacks will allow Sharon to be armed with all the excuses to launch this bloody destructive war against our masses... The leadership declares clearly its rejection and condemnation of these attacks and considers the groups that are launching them to be working against the interest of the Palestinian people, that it needs to rapidly limit it from harming the Palestinian cause and the national destiny, and to block the path of these terrorist crimes that our people pay the price for.\"
\"The Palestinian leadership strongly condemns the violent attack against Israeli civilians in a public hall in Rishon LeTzion. The timing of this dangerous attack against Israeli civilians at a time when Sharon meets with the American president is aimed at supporting Sharon\'s claims it is impossible to make peace with the Palestinian people. And to stamp our people with terrorism and to excuse Sharon and his government from spilling Palestinian blood in the Jenin refugee camp and all of the areas, cities, camps and villages that did not stop until this hour... And we will not go easy with these groups that commit these operations that harm our people and our cause severely.. These attacks will allow Sharon to be armed with all the excuses to launch this bloody destructive war against our masses... The leadership declares clearly its rejection and condemnation of these attacks and considers the groups that are launching them to be working against the interest of the Palestinian people, that it needs to rapidly limit it from harming the Palestinian cause and the national destiny, and to block the path of these terrorist crimes that our people pay the price for.\"