MISREPRESENTING ABBAS' CALL FOR ISRAELI BLOOD

THE JERUSALEM POST HAS MORE DETAILS ON THE STORY I POSTED YESTERDAY ABOUT THE "MODERATE" ABBAS' CALL FOR KILLING ISRAELIS.

Abbas: Aim guns against occupation (JPost)
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called on Palestinians to refrain from internal fighting and to direct their guns only against Israeli "occupation."

Abbas, speaking during a rally marking the 42nd anniversary of the founding of his Fatah party, told thousands of supporters that the Palestinian struggle would continue until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital. He also expressed opposition to the idea of establishing a Palestinian state with temporary borders.
"The issue of the refugees is non-negotiable," Abbas said. "We will not give up one inch of land in Jerusalem and we consider the settlements illegal. We also reject any attempt to resettle the refugees in other countries."

MK [MEMBER OF THE ISRAELI KNESSET] Ahmed Tibi, who represented Israeli Arabs at the rally, said: "Fatah was the first group to launch the revolution, and Palestine and Fatah will remain. The liberation of Palestine is a long process, and the path is full of obstacles. The Palestinians will continue their struggle until the liberation of the land and the establishment of a Palestinian state."

Tibi also condemned what he termed "Israeli crimes against Palestinians," including children.

Before the speech, Abbas placed a wreath on the tomb of his predecessor Yasser Arafat at the Mukata "presidential" compound. ....

"When Fatah was established, it was accused of treason and we were chased in every place," Abbas told the crowd. "But with the will and determination of its sons, Fatah has and will continue. We will not give up our principles and we have said that rifles should be directed against the occupation."

Appealing to Palestinians to avoid civil war, Abbas said: "We are all one people regardless of differences of opinion. My top priority is to preserve national unity, because Palestinian infighting and blood are a red line that must not be crossed."

Defending his call to use weapons against Israel, he added: "We have a legitimate right to direct our guns against Israeli occupation. It is forbidden to use these guns against Palestinians. The occupation has perpetrated brutal attacks in Jenin, Beit Hanun and Ramallah." ....

In an unrelated development, Fatah gunmen announced Thursday that the main square in the Jenin refugee camp has been named after former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Zakariya Zubeidi, the local commander of Fatah's armed wing, Aksa Martyrs Brigades, said the decision was taken in honor of Saddam's support for the Palestinians over the past 25 years.

THAT LAST PART IS PARTICULARLY AMUSING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, NONE OF THE WIRE SERVICES ARE REPORTING ABBAS' STATEMENTS. INSTEAD THEY STRESS ABBAS IS TRYING TO STOP BLOODSHED ... BETWEEN PALESTINIANS.

Abbas determined to prevent further internal clashes with Hamas. (AFP)
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas assured tens of thousands of supporters that he was determined to prevent further factional clashes with rival Hamas after weeks of internecine bloodshed.

“Preserving national unity and preventing internal clashes is our priority,” Abbas told a crowd of flag-waving, chanting supporters of his Fatah party in central Ramallah.

“Spilling Palestinian blood is a red line that should not be crossed and those who do so are criminals,” he said, a white and black traditional keffiyeh scarf wrapped around his neck. “The sole language that should prevail is dialogue,” he said.