Al-Fahoum: Palestinian groups freeze media activity to avoid American pressure on Syria
Syria-Palestine, Politics, 5/19/2003

Former chairman of the Palestinian national council, Khaled al-Fahoum, stressed that the Palestinian groups "voluntarily" froze media activities, their only activity in Damascus, because of their assessment of the American pressure on Syria.

Al-Fahoum said "considering the conditions and the American onslaught, the Palestinian groups volunteered to freeze their activities and abstained from launching statements, and festivals." Al-Fahoum explained that these groups especially the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements in Palestine "did not have offices in al-Yarmouk Camp in the real sense of offices, rather used to run activities from the houses of its officials inside the camp."

On the other hand, a Palestinian source considered that it is in the "interests of all sides and also their duty, especially the Palestinians, to prevent Syria from being attacked and to foil the American pretexts targeting Syria." The source added "the matter is not just to close the offices, it is rather to freeze the activities, which are from Damascus, just various media activities." He considered that the American pressure against Syria in this regard: is just a card used by the US against Syria despite the fact that the US knows this card is unrealistic."

Traffic was calm yesterday in the allies of al-Yarmouk camp of the Palestinian refugees in Damascus which includes 250,000 Palestinian refugees,in southern Damascus, where Hamas and the Islamic Jihad used to hold meetings, and circulate statements and organize festivals. The headquarters of activity centers of these groups used to be distinguished from other buildings by intensive movement in front of their doors and deployment of guards, and all seemed yesterday calm except for children playing in front of their entrances.

The secretary general of the People's Front For the Liberation of Palestine Ahmad Jibril, carries the Syrian nationality. His office's telephone numbers have nobody to answer them, a clear indication he is "abiding by the already taken measures."

Previous Stories:
  Palestinians sit-in at the Red Cross premises in Damascus   (5/2/2003)
  Al-Shara confers with Kaddoumi   (3/31/2003)
  Islamic Bank reports on Syria's money deposit to Palestinian Intifada   (3/13/2003)

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