Egypt ? Al-Qaida’s deputy leader has criticized Palestinian and other Arab leaders, accusing them of betraying Islam and collaborating with the United States and Israel, according to an Internet statement posted in his name Monday.

The statement, purportedly from Ayman al-Zawahri, congratulated Islamic holy warriors around the world on the feast of Eid al-Adha and on “the defeat of the Americans and their crusader allies in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Al-Zawahri was quoted as accusing the Egyptian, Saudi Arabian and Yemeni governments of serving the interests of the United States.

The message could not immediately be authenticated, but it appeared on two Islamic Web sites known for publishing militant material.

Referring to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and a senior member of his Fatah party, al-Zawahri asked: “How is it possible for Mahmoud Abbas to be a brother of ours, or for Mohammed Dahlan to be a brother of ours, when they have grown fat on the bribes of the Jews and gifts of the Americans?”

Senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat called the statement “absolutely unacceptable,” and predicted it would not influence Palestinians.

Al-Zawahri, who issued 14 taped statements last year, has often told the Palestinians what they should be doing, but is not known to have an impact.