A senior official of the Palestinian Authority, speaking under condition of anonymity, told the Iranian state news agency, IRNA, that the actions taken against the Hamas and Islamic Jihad are ?temporary measures pending a return to normalcy.? The closure of Islamist affiliated institutions was carried out ?under duress,? said the official, because ?we had to do something to demonstrate to the Americans that we are serious about fighting violence.? The official said that American sensitivities after September 11 influenced their attitude towards Hamas and Islamic Jihad ?and they insisted that we try to narrow Hamas horizons, or else they would lump the PA with two organizations.? The IRNA report noted that some of the closed Hamas and Jihad institutions are even funded by the PA itself.



The official made it clear, though, that ?these institutions would be reopened once American and Zionist pressure is mitigated.? However, the chances of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon being satisfied with the closure of Islamist charities and clubs are nonexistent, admitted the PA official, rather the Israeli leader ?uses the issue of violence and terror as a pretext.?