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Source: http://www.jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=6488&ref=daily_briefing
Abbas' "Rifles" Statement Questioned
[JTA] The umbrella body for U.S. Jewish groups expressed "deep concern" at the call by Mahmoud Abbas for Palestinians to "raise rifles" against Israel. "Let a thousand flowers bloom and let our rifles, all our rifles, all our rifles, be aimed at the occupation," Abbas said at a Jan. 11 rally in the context of urging Palestinians to end internecine warfare. In a statement Wednesday, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations noted the context but added, "This call for terror against Israelis casts doubt on the sincerity of" earlier statements committing Abbas to an end to violence. "His extreme rhetoric also undermines the diplomatic effort the U.S. administration is undertaking to try to make progress in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict." Last week, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to confront Abbas about the statement.