|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4163/fatah-armed-struggle
Fatah and the "Armed Struggle" Against Israel
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - In an interview in the New York Times, PA President Mahmoud Abbas once again expressed his opposition to an armed struggle against Israel. But while in English Abbas was voicing his opposition to an armed struggle, in Arabic Palestinian officials were issuing statements in support of "armed resistance" against Israel. The officials who favor "armed resistance" are senior representatives of Abbas' ruling Fatah faction whose names are often mentioned as potential successors to Abbas. They include Jibril Rajoub, Tawfik Tirawi and Mahmoud al-Aloul - all members of the Fatah Central Committee - who have publicly come out in favor of a return to an "armed struggle" against Israel. The statements are aimed at preparing the Palestinian public for another round of violence with Israel if and when the U.S.-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian negotiations fail.