A Fatah leader and former minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA) has wished al-Qaeda success in attacking Americans during an appearance on PA TV, according to a report by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW). During the January 1 interview, made available by PMW in video format, Abu Ali Shahin, addressing al-Qaeda, said: "Do to Bush whatever you want, and we wish you success... We are fighting the Americans and hate the Americans more than you!" According to a brief by PMW, "Shahin was responding to a statement by Al-Qaeda's deputy leader , Ayman al-Zawahri, criticizing Palestinian Fatah leaders for contacts with the US." "Oh (Al-Qaeda) brother, leave us and focus on your business. You have Bush! Do to Bush what you want, and we wish you success with Bush, even more. I, Abu Ali Shahin, wish you success with Bush," Shahin said. "Whoever is interested in creating a split in the Palestinian camp, is not serving anyone but the Americans and their protégé, the Zionist Imperialist Project. We are fighting the Americans and hate the Americans more than you. We know we are described as enemies of the Americans. About Americans, we say, publicly: the central, head enemy to the Arab Palestinian people and to the national struggle, is this American leadership embodied by the White House and this George Bush sitting there."
PMW added in its brief that "according to a December 2005 public opinion poll," carried out by the Fato Institute for Applied International Studies in Norway, "65% of Palestinians support Al-Qaeda actions in the US and Europe."