Bin Laden is trying to use us, says Arafat aide

War on Terrorism: Israeli and Palestinian Reaction

Senior officials around Yasser Arafat scrambled last night to assure the United States that they oppose Osama bin Laden and vehemently reject the Saudi dissident's comments – contained in his first videotaped statement since 11 September – linking his cause with the Palestinians.

Samir Rantissi, a senior adviser to the Palestinian Information Ministry, said: "We have nothing to do with the man, and we absolutely do not condone anything that he has done."

Mr Rantissi passed on a message last night from Mr Arafat through US diplomatic channels to Washington, expressing full support for the US military actions and disassociating the Palestinians from Mr bin Laden. He said the message expressed "full and outright" support for the Americans.

In his videotaped comments, Mr bin Laden said he "swore to God" that the United States would not live in peace until peace reigned in Palestine – coupling his movement explicitly with the Palestinian conflict with Israel, an issue that has to date been seen as comparatively low on his lists of grievances against the West.

The remarks will benefit Israel's leader, Ariel Sharon, who has untiringly sought to couple the Palestinians with Mr bin Laden's atrocities, arguing that attacks by guerrillas and suicide bombers on Israel are terrorism, and that all terrorism is the same. To the annoyance of the Palestinians, the United States and its allies, Mr Sharon has described Mr Arafat as "Israel's bin Laden".

Last night, Palestinian officials were struggling to counter this. "We are a legitimate liberation movement which is opposing an occupation," Mr Rantissi said. "We have nothing against the American people, or against the West. We deplore the actions carried out on 11 September. Bin Laden is trying to use us, and we cannot allow that to happen."

Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian legislator, said: "The Palestinian cause can be very easily hijacked and used, because it is a clear expression of real injustice. That's why we must do something now to solve it." Mr Arafat held back from public comment – mindful, no doubt, that anti-US sentiments run high on the streets of Gaza and the West Bank, and will now be stoked by the air strikes. But sources close to the Palestinian leader said he was concerned by Mr bin Laden's speech.

Chief among his worries will be the impact Mr bin Laden's remarks will have on public opinion in the United States. Before 11 September, President Bush was reluctant to get closely involved in the conflict, but he has since become engaged, pressing both sides to end the violence so that it does not inflame opinion among Muslims on the streets.

The concern now among the Palestinian leadership – which acknowledges that the US is the only power capable of unlocking the conflict – will be that the Bush administration will back away. One diplomatic source said: "There is a risk that any positive suggestion in support of a Palestinian position will be seen by an American audience as an expression support for bin Laden and this will mean that the Bush administration will not want to get involved."

Mr Arafat has not forgotten the damage caused to his international standing and his coffers by his support for Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War. His security forces can be expected to try hard to control demonstrations that might be held against the bombing for fear television cameras will catch damning footage of Palestinians expressing support for the man suspected of being behind the September attacks.

Israel is sure to pounce on anything of this kind. Its reaction last night to the attacks on Afghanistan was positive. The Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, called it a "brave decision" by Mr Bush. "I think that all of us, first of all, are praying for the welfare of the American army and its allies," Mr Sharon said on Israel's Channel Two television in the first official Israeli reaction to the start of the military campaign.

Mr Peres, referring to Mr Bush's televised address from the White House, said: "It is a brave decision by the President, along with [his] very convincing and touching speech."

Israeli media had reported that Washington gave Israel warning of the operation several hours before it began.

Mr Sharon was due to hold a security meeting of his intelligence officials and armed forces generals last night to discuss the attacks, and the possible consequences for Israel. A government spokesman said: "Bush told Sharon that this attack is only the first phase in the war against terror."

In the past fortnight,with the attacks looming, thousands of Israelis have visited gas-mask collection centres to collect new masks because of fears of a chemical attack in response to the US-led offensive – possibly from Iraq which fired Scud missiles into Israel during the 1991 Gulf War.

The spokesman said: "All the necessary measures have been taken to ensure the protection and defence of the citizens of Israel against whatever kind of attack may ensue." Mr Peres said he did not see a danger of Israel coming under attack as a result of the US assault.