Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of seeking the elimination of Palestine during an interview with Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath on Monday, declaring that Israel “wants to destroy all of Palestine.”
He claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not interested in the establishment of a Palestinian state. “Netanyahu does not want a fully-fledged Palestinian state,” Abbas said, while also charging that the prime minister is “determined to continue the genocide of the Palestinian people.”
Abbas reminded viewers that the Palestinians already made a major concession decades ago. “We recognized Israel since 1988, yet it [Israel] still prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state,” he said.
Turning to the question of Gaza, Abbas insisted that the Palestinian Authority is prepared to assume control of the territory. He stated, “We are ready to take over Gaza’s governance and we have the capabilities for it. We have no objections to Arab or international partnerships in managing Gaza.”
He also noted the growing international momentum in support of Palestinian recognition. “One hundred and forty-nine countries have recognized the Palestinian state. Several heads of states have told me they intend to recognize Palestine,” Abbas said.
These remarks came just weeks before the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session scheduled for later this month. Abbas and other senior Palestinian representatives, however, were barred from participating after the United States revoked their visas.
Prior to the American decision, Abbas had considered unilaterally declaring the Palestinian Authority a state. In his Monday interview, he said his intention is to “go to the UN for full membership for Palestine.”
Abbas further addressed the situation in Lebanon, expressing support for President Joseph Aoun’s initiative to remove weapons from Palestinian refugee camps in the country. The Jerusalem Post has previously suggested that such disarmament could set a precedent for Aoun’s administration to eventually target Hezbollah’s arsenal.
“Withdrawing weapons from Palestinian camps is a step towards protecting Lebanon,” Abbas said. “I want a normal relationship with Lebanon and for it to maintain its unity and security. I will not be the cause of disrupting the Lebanese state’s project. Palestinian weapons will remain a trust with the Lebanese state.”
{Matzav.com Israel}02
We are not interested in a Palestinian state. We are very disappointed that Abbas is still alive.
And the Palestinians want to destroy Israel. Better destroy them first.
The Israeli establishment, leftists, have been very good at self-harm and self-destruction. Palestine, doesn’t exist and hasn’t since the Roman Empire left the region.
Well, that wasn’t the plan.
But now that you suggest it, will definitely take that under advisement.
Fools will only hurt themselves.
If Israel is really Palestine (as it is according to the Arabs), then he’s saying that Israel wants to destroy itself.
Also, if you look at centuries of maps in all different languages (French, Latin, German, Chinese, etc.), Israel is often labeled as “Holy Land” or “Judea” or “Canaan” – much more than it was ever labeled “Palestine.”