Video: Palestinian Prime Minister Simultaneously Denies, Defends Incitement to Violence Against Jews, Refuses to Condemn Stabbing Attacks

By R. Blum

In a television interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), the Palestinian prime minister rejected questions about disunity and corruption within the Palestinian Authority, and insisted the PA is committed to “non-violent resistance” against Israel, while repeatedly refusing to condemn stabbing attacks against Israelis.

Interviewed in Ramallah by “Conflict Zone” host Tim Sebastian, Rami Hamdallah deflected each question about the PA by referring to Israel. Sebastian repeatedly said that when he interviews Israelis, he challenges them about their behavior; but he is now asking about the Palestinian side.

Hamdallah, a member of Paletsinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, who is also the president of An-Najah National University in Nablus, succeeded Salam Fayyad as prime minister in June, 2013. When Hamas did not recognize his appointment, Hamdallah resigned two weeks later, only to be asked by Abbas to form a new government in September, by which time Hamas coolly accepted his role as the person who could best bring about reconciliation between the two warring factions.

The following is a transcript of an excerpt of the DW interview:

Sebastian: Israel’s main problem with you is incitement, isn’t it? Israel’s deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely spoke in January of a direct relationship between the Palestinian who stabbed a 39-year-old mother to death in front of her children in January and incitement from the Palestinian media. Why do you allow incitement in your media?

Hamdallah: Why don’t you talk about the Israelian side?

Sebastian: I talk to the Israelis about what they do, but it’s not an answer to the question.

Hamdallah: Let me explain again. We are committed to non-violent resistance. Incidents have been by individuals.

Sebastian: What about incitement on your television channels?

Hamdallah: We are committed. We always say that – the president [Mahmoud Abbas] and myself – we always say that we are committed to non-violent resistance.

Sebastian: But you broadcast a music video [provided and translated by Palestinian Media Watch] calling on Palestinians to “drown them [the Jews] in a sea of blood and kill them as you wish.” Why?

Hamdallah: I tell you. You have many nations, many of whom have xxx lives of occupation. Would these people suffer collective punishment? Would these people see their homes demolished?

Sebastian: Is that a reason to allow incitement, Mr. Prime Minister…?:

Hamdallah: Israel pushes these people towards radicalism.

Sebastian: Is that a reason to allow incitement?

Hamdallah: We have to see a political horizon. We have to give these people – these inter-generations, we have to give them hope.

Sebastian: Is that a reason to allow incitement? — “To drown the Jews in a sea of blood and kill them as you wish.” This is what’s broadcast on your media.

Hamdallah: We don’t allow incitement. This is not really the fact…

Sebastian: So she got it wrong. The deputy foreign minister got it wrong.

Hamdallah: She always gets it wrong, actually. Once she described Palestinians as snakes, Palestinian children as snakes. Isn’t this incitement?

Sebastian: But I ask Israelis about what they do. I’m asking you about what you do.

Hamdallah: I tell you, our commitment is to non-violent resistance. This is our commitment.

Pushed by Sebastian later in the interview to reject the ongoing spate of Palestinian stabbing attacks against Israelis, Hamdallah again swerves repeatedly leaving the visibly frustrated interviewer to conclude, “you don’t condemn them do you.”

The interview was highlighted over the weekend by pro-Israel blogger Elder of Ziyon.

Watch the excerpt on incitement, provided by Elder of Ziyon, below:

Watch Hamdallah refuse to condemn terror below:

(c) 2016 The Algemeiner Journal

{Matzav.com Newscenter}