RAMALLAH Ñ Media outlets owned by the Palestinian Authority are encouraging women to join the ranks of suicide-bombers to attack Israel and advance the feminist cause.

PA newspapers and television are calling on women to participate in suicide bombing missions, saying that this would help ensure sexual equality in Palestinian society. So far, two women have blown themselves up in suicide missions against Israel.

An editorial in the PA-owned Al Hayat Al Jadida, quoted women as urging their colleagues to volunteer for suicide missions as part of the insurgency war against Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. The newspaper suggested that this was part of a woman's duty.

"Are women not manÕs partner?" the daily asked. "Are women not expected to be full partners in all of life's demands including military ones?"

PA television has repeatedly broadcast a video clip that showed a woman wearing a uniform as she called for suicide operations against Israel. "I will even willingly fall as a martyr," the women sang.

A recent Palestinian survey reported that 96 percent of women students support suicide attacks. The ratio is higher than among male university students.

The PA campaign was launched over the last month amid an escalation of suicide missions in Israel. Virtually all of the attacks were carried out by men.

The exceptions were Wafa Idris, who blew herself up in downtown Jerusalem and Da'arin Abu Asiyah who on Feb. 27 detonated a bomb she was wearing near an Israeli military roadblock. PA newspapers said the attacks demonstrated the value of women fighters.

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