Palestinian morale takes flight

In a brief ceremony yesterday President Clinton and the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, inaugurated Gaza International Airport in the southern Gaza Strip. The two leaders and their wives arrived by helicopter, disembarked to the tune I love to go a- wandering played by a US Marine band and inspected a Palestinian guard of honour.

When they took the stand outside the main passenger terminal, Mr Arafat grinned and held up his hand in the "v" sign for victory. Mr Clinton was handed a pair of scissors by a Palestinian girl wearing a brightly embroidered traditional dress and asked by Mr Arafat to cut the wide red ribbon bearing the name of the airport in English and Arabic.

Mr Clinton snipped several times and the ribbon parted. The assemblage of Palestinian parliamentarians, officials, ambassadors and foreign diplomats clapped. Then Mr Arafat asked his guest to cut a piece off for himself and a second piece for Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton. The audience tittered and clapped. But the tailoring was not complete till three more slices had been cut for the Arafat family. Guffaw, followed by clapping.

Mr Clinton shook a few hands, waved, and the two presidential parties were whisked off to their helicopters for the trip to Gaza City and an official lunch. Catching up the drooping ribbon, the US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, snipped a souvenir for herself. Mr Arafat, known affectionately as Abu Ammar, radiated happiness, his step was firm and strong. Mr Clinton was the first US president to visit Gaza and his presence at the airport opening, more than two years delayed, gave Palestinian morale a powerful boost. For no state is a state without an international airport. This graceful cream-coloured group of arched buildings blends into the golden sands of Gaza. The control tower was draped with massive Palestinian and US flags.

Always an upbeat optimist, Dr Nabil Shaath, one of Mr Arafat's closest advisers, said the visit was "historic" and of "great importance". Although "it does not constitute recognition of an independent Palestinian state because the US has to take a formal decision on such a step, it does signify recognition of the Palestinian identity and of a Palestinian political entity." The Palestinian Minister of Justice, Mr Freih Abu Medein, took a realistic line. "We are very grateful to Mr Clinton for coming. He is doing his best for us."

Disappointed Palestinian schoolchildren gathered along the route contented themselves with waving their flags at guests. Mr Clinton's omnipresent security men ruled out his travelling in a triumphal motorcade the length of the Strip.