Funeral fury turns on leaders

GAZA - Palestinian mourners at funerals for three teenagers killed by Israeli gunfire mocked Arab leaders yesterday for failing to agree at a weekend summit on strong action against Israel.

"We urge Arabs to provide us with more coffins since they are unable to help us. We are ready to sacrifice our souls and blood for Jerusalem," a masked Palestinian said through a loudspeaker at the Gaza funeral of 17-year-old Salah al-Nijmi.

In the West Bank town of Nablus, a donkey decked out with an empty box labelled "Results of the Arab summit" walked alongside a funeral procession for Saed Tambour, 17, and Ashraf Habayeb, 15.

Arab leaders at the Cairo gathering condemned Israeli "massacres" and "barbarism" during three weeks of violence in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. "We need to see explosions in Israel to avenge the martyrs," Al-Nijmi's father said.

Gaza hospital officials said that at least 11 Palestinians were wounded in the Gaza Strip in clashes before the funeral. A 13-year-old boy was in a critical condition after being hit in the head by a rubber-coated metal bullet.

All but eight of the 127 killed in the violence have been Palestinians or Israeli Arabs. "Millions of martyrs are marching towards Jerusalem. One by one - and all will follow," the Gaza crowd chanted.

Al-Nijmi's family asked mourners not to cry for their son.

"We are all Salah. Martyrs are dear to God," the mourners chanted.

- REUTERS

Herald Online feature: Middle East

Map

Middle East Daily

Arabic News

Arabic Media Internet Network

Jerusalem Post

Israel Wire

US Department of State - Middle East Peace Process