THE OTHER SIDE

Hamas Calls bin Laden ‘Holy Warrior’

Extremist group inspired by al Qaeda.

As predicted, not everyone is rejoicing in Osama bin Laden's death. The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas condemned his killing by U.S. forces and hailed bin Laden as an "Arab holy warrior." The Palestinian Authority was not of the same opinion, saying that the death of al Qaeda's leader was "good for the cause of peace." Hamas has clashed with new Islamist groups in the Gaza Strip, thinking them too moderate and has thus turned to extremists like bin Laden for inspiration. Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, told reporters that his people viewed the killing of bin Laden as "a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood."