The Jerusalem Post (www.jpost.com) reports that many Palestinians have a new favorite key holder:

A figurine of Osama bin Laden that is used as a key holder is the latest hit in Palestinian markets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The green-and-blue statuettes are selling for NIS 5 [a bit over $1 US].

Palestinians said thousands of the figurines have appeared in local markets. A Gaza wholesale merchant reportedly imported the key holders from an Islamic country.

The figurines are particularly popular in the Gaza Strip, a stronghold of Islamic fundamentalism, and in some parts of the West Bank. In Ramallah, a secular and modern city by Palestinian standards, the key holders can be found in many gift and stationery shops.

"I've sold hundreds of these key holders," a shopkeeper in the center of Ramallah said. "They're very popular, especially among taxi drivers and children. You can also find them in neighboring countries like Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon."

Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda terrorist group are responsible for the deliberate murder of 3,000 people on 9/11/2001. Many Palestinians took to the streets in celebration of the murders (click here for more info).

I copy the full article below.

Palestinians pocket bin Laden key chains
The Jerusalem Post, By KHALED ABU TOAMEH, Jan. 14, 2003
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite
?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/
ShowFull&cid=1042431606388

A figurine of Osama bin Laden that is used as a key holder is the latest hit in Palestinian markets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The green-and-blue statuettes are selling for NIS 5.

Palestinians said thousands of the figurines have appeared in local markets. A Gaza wholesale merchant reportedly imported the key holders from an Islamic country.

The figurines are particularly popular in the Gaza Strip, a stronghold of Islamic fundamentalism, and in some parts of the West Bank. In Ramallah, a secular and modern city by Palestinian standards, the key holders can be found in many gift and stationery shops.

"I've sold hundreds of these key holders," a shopkeeper in the center of Ramallah said. "They're very popular, especially among taxi drivers and children. You can also find them in neighboring countries like Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon."

According to the merchant, the huge demand for the bin Laden key holders reflects anti-US sentiment among Palestinians.

"People here are very angry at the US because it is totally biased in favor of Israel and because it is waging a war against Islam," he said. "In addition, you can say that many people regard Osama bin Laden to be a hero."

A moderate Palestinian academic in Ramallah said he was disgusted by the phenomenon, adding that he hopes the Palestinian Authority will move very quickly to collect the items from the shelves.
"Someone is using this issue to portray the entire Palestinian people as supporters of terrorism, and that's absolutely wrong and harmful," he said.

"I believe the majority of Palestinians strongly condemn the actions of al-Qaida and bin Laden."

Although the PA has repeatedly condemned bin Laden for exploiting the Palestinian cause to justify his heinous atrocities, many Palestinians continue to regard the Saudi-born arch terrorist as a hero. Posters of bin Laden can still be seen hanging on the walls of refugee camps and university campuses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Posted by David Melle
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