Palestinians find time for love amid hardships

GAZA, Feb 14 (Reuters) Love was in the air -- or at least online -- in Gaza this Valentine's Day after weeks of Palestinian factional warfare.

The day brought frowns from some Islamic clerics, but many young men visited Internet cafes to profess their feelings electronically to girlfriends, many of whom live outside the religiously conservative Gaza Strip.

''We have to amuse ourselves a bit. We have to break barriers by celebrating Valentine's Day or the Day of Love,'' said a Palestinian university student who gave his name only as Hadi.

He emailed a picture of a heart to his girlfriend in Morocco.

Sharif Abu Mussalam's girlfriend in France was sent a love poem, typed in the shape of a heart.

''I have made a design and want, despite everything, to celebrate Valentine's Day,'' Abu Musslam told Reuters, referring to internal violence in which some 90 Palestinians have been killed since December.

A Saudi-brokered unity government deal between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions last week was greeted with fireworks in the Gaza Strip and a return to relative quiet in the territory, home to 1.5 million Palestinians.

On the streets of Gaza, some clothing and gift shops decorated their shelves in red, the colour traditionally associated with Valentine's Day.

Mohammad Aboud, 27, said interest among Gazans in the day was stronger than usual this year.

''We are in need of an escape, for some relief -- just like most other nations in the world,'' said Aboud, who bought perfume for his fiancee.

Not everyone was enamoured of the celebrations.

A Muslim cleric, speaking on a local radio station, urged Palestinians to shun Valentine's Day, calling it an affront to Islamic values and a temptation to engage in immoral behaviour.

Although there are a number of possible origins for this day dedicated to lovers, it is most likely to have come from a Christian priest who was killed in Roman times. According to legend, the martyr signed a letter to his jailer's daughter, with whom he had fallen in love, ''from your Valentine''.

Reuters KD DB1942