A Palestinian Media Watch bulletin from December 19, 2002, reveals yet another expression of support for Iraq and its dictator-leader Saddam Hussein. PMW Director Itamar Marcus noted that a Palestinian Authority daily, al-Hayat al-Jadida, reported on a ceremony in Gaza, ?under the heading ?Palestine and Iraq in the same trench?....? According to the PMW report, Arab families of suicide bombers and others killed while attacking Israelis were presented with money from Saddam Hussein - totaling $280,000 - at the ceremony. The dias was adorned with images of Saddam Hussein, PLO leader Yasser Arafat, Iraqi and PLO flags.
PMW reports, ?During the ceremony support was expressed for Iraq in its coming battle with the United States....? The PMW bulletin quotes al-Hayat al-Jadida as reporting that one of the speakers, the poet Omar Halil Omar, ?praised the role of Iraq and the Commander Saddam Hussein, and stressed that Iraq?s land will be a graveyard for the American soldiers...?
PMW reports, ?During the ceremony support was expressed for Iraq in its coming battle with the United States....? The PMW bulletin quotes al-Hayat al-Jadida as reporting that one of the speakers, the poet Omar Halil Omar, ?praised the role of Iraq and the Commander Saddam Hussein, and stressed that Iraq?s land will be a graveyard for the American soldiers...?