Nablus students [blow up model bus] demonstrate in support of Al Aqsa Mosque
By TJT Staff
The Jerusalem Times (independent Palestinian weekly) 29 May 2003
http://www.jerusalem-times.net/article/news/details/detail.asp?id=3412

Students demonstrated at the biggest Palestinian university, Al- Najah, in
the West Bank city of Nablus, vowing to keep Jews out of Al Aqsa Mosque, the
third holiest site in Islam. Israel's police chief said last week he would
open the mosque for Jews to pray even by using force if necessary.

At the demonstration, which was organized by the Islamic Movement of Hamas,
students warned the Israeli government not to allow Jews to enter the mosque
compound. "We are ready to prevent the Jews from entering Al Aqsa. We are
all ready to be martyrs in order to defend it," the students shouted. At the
demonstration, they blew up a four-meter long wooden replica of a bus, and a
model of a Land Rover.

Speaking to the crowds, Ahmed Haj Ali, one of the local political leaders of
Hamas, slammed the Mideast roadmap for peace which was grudgingly approved
by Israel on Sunday. "The roadmap is a trick. The only map that will lead us
to victory is jihad," he said, using the Arabic term for holy war.

Earlier, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, another leader of Hamas, called the road
map "a conspiracy to liquidate the Palestinian cause and resistance." In a
historic vote cast under intense U.S. pressure, Israel's government narrowly
approved an internationally backed "road map" to peace Sunday and for the
first time recognized the Palestinians' right to statehood.