President Yasser Arafat emphasized to the Arab League Secretary General that the Arab nations must join the international coalition against terrorism for what it represents of threats to all peace-loving nations throughout the world in a telephone conversation today.

Immediately following the terrorist attack against various American cities on 11 September, President Yasser Arafat expressed his unreserved condemnation of the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and rural Pennsylvania on behalf of the Palestinian People.

However, reports about the popular and official responses in the Middle East have been largely skewed by apparently biased media outlets, which have misreported events and reactions. Palestinian public has been especially offended by the concerted effort that many international media outlets seem to be exerting to hide the various forms in which Palestinians have expressed their shock and grief at the terrorist actions in the US. Instead, efforts have been concentrated on reporting isolated incidents, which have been condemned by the Palestinian leadership and People.

Since the day of the attack, Palestinian officials and civilians have sent letters of condolences and solidarity to American officials, non-governmental organizations and families of the hundreds of victims killed in the vicious attack.

In fact, a number of official and popular expressions of solidarity with American People and condemnation of the terrorist attack against the United States have so far been held. Among them,

¨ President Yasser Arafat immediately condemned the terrorist attack and on behalf of the Palestinian People, he expressed genuine sorrow and grief for the American People's pain.

¨ The Palestinian leadership and numerous Palestinian officials issued written statements condemning the attack and expressing their solidarity with the American People during these tragic times.

¨ The Palestine Legislative Council condemned the terrorist attack on the United States and sent an urgent letter of condolences to Mr. J Dennis Hasterd, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

¨ President Yasser Arafat led a national blood donation drive yesterday and he was the first to donate blood. After donating his blood in AL-Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City, President Arafat told reporters, "We are donating our humble abilities to (U.S. President George W. Bush) and to the American people".

¨ Palestinians in Occupied East Jerusalem held a candle vigil on 12 September to express their grief and solidarity with the American families struck by this tragedy. Mr. Abdel Qader Al-Husseini, son of the late Palestinian leader Faisal Al-Husseini led the candle vigil.

¨ The Jerusalem University students, along with the President of the University and the Deans of the various Faculties, began a blood donation drive in Occupied East Jerusalem. Students and professors went to hospitals in the Occupied City, in order to donate blood for the American victims who need it.

¨ The 1 million Palestinian students in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Occupied East Jerusalem, stood five minutes in silence to express their solidarity with the hundreds of American children who have been struck by this strategy, which resembles in its shocking effects their daily sufferings.

In addition to these activities already held, the Palestinian Legislative Council will hold a special session on Saturday 15 September to express their solidarity with the American People and government.