didn't deny the celebrations had taken place. Instead, she correctly pointed out that the celebrants were only a handful of people out of a population of millions. Many of those celebrating were children too young to know any better. There was also a report last week (I think it was on CNN but I'm not certain) that the Palestinian authorities had enacted restrictions preventing the press from covering the celebrations. Why issue an order if there was nothing to show? The authorities no doubt realized how bad those images looked to Americans and realized the celebrations, no matter how small, seriously eroded any sympathy Americans were feeling for the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel.