(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - PA President Mahmoud Abbas' remarks that he does not want to return to his home town of Safed led to strong condemnations not only from Hamas and radical Palestinian groups, but also from some of his political allies in the PLO. The widespread denunciations show that the Palestinians remain strongly opposed to any concessions to Israel with regard to the "right of return" for refugees to their former homes inside Israel. But Abbas himself is partially responsible for the fact that Palestinians have been radicalized to a point where they see any talk of compromise with Israel as an act of "high treason." Over the years, Abbas has repeatedly declared that the "right of return" is a sacred issue and a "red line."
2012-11-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive