The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are ongoing, yet the Palestinian Authority continues to instigate violence and preach to its people that the entire Land of Israel, including the pre-1967 territory, belongs to the Arabs.
As reported by Palestinian Media Watch, an Israel-based nongovernmental organization and media watchdog group, a memorial this month – under the auspices of PA President Mahmoud Abbas – marking the 32nd anniversary of the death of PLO collaborator Majed Abu Sharar, reinforced the message that all of Israel is “occupied Palestinian land.”
Fatah Central Committee member Jamal Muhaisen, known as a “fighter,” delivered Abbas’s speech, asserting: “Gaza is occupied, the West Bank is occupied, the 1948 lands (i.e., Israel) are occupied and Jerusalem is occupied.”
At the same event, the National Security Artistic Band performed, “My weapon has emerged,” which includes the statement: “There is no force in the world that can remove the weapon from my hand.”
Another example of incitement to violence – among many – was a song aired multiple times since August 2011 on PA TV, and most recently in October 2013, titled, “Marry me off to the girl who will raise my children on carrying the rifle.”
The PA encourages armed struggle as a legitimate tactic in its mission to destroy the Jewish state; in fact, a main point of contention between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PA President Mahmoud Abbas is the latter’s refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
While the PA supports terror, at times it refrains from violence and participates in dialogue – as opposed to Hamas – as a tool to help reach its goal. This strategy has convinced many in the West that the PA is moderate.
As senior PA official Dr. Nabil Shaath, who in June said that the Palestinians would agree to renew negotiations, if Israel frees Palestinian prisoners and freezes settlement construction, had declared in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, the official PA daily newspaper:
“The popular struggle is a fundamental principle whose importance equals that of the armed struggle, since it is the responsibility and task of all the people. The current distancing from the armed struggle does not mean its absolute rejection.”
PMW also publicized Fatah’s Arabic-language Facebook page celebrating its terror activities against Israeli civilians. In fact, the prisoners that it insists on freeing from Israeli jails include the most vicious murderers.
Regarding the current negotiations pushed by US Secretary of State John Kerry with the encouragement of the international community, the main obstacles, according to widespread media reports, include the Old City of Jerusalem, Israeli security in the Jordan Valley and the future of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Jerusalem will remain united under Israeli sovereignty.
PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo described the Israeli stance as “the worst in the past 20 years,” reported Ynet, an Israeli news website.
“I see no change in the Palestinian position since 1993,” when the Oslo Accords were signed, Netanyahu stated this week, according to Israel Hayom.
Author: Atara Beck, staff writer for United with Israel
Date: Nov 5, 2013