Abbas is a Holocaust denier
New York — The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has criticized President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for continuing to whitewash Holocaust denier and Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmoud Abbas’s regime as being one that is moderate and dedicated to peace despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Both have also continued to push for the creation of a Palestinian state despite the continuing non-fulfillment of Palestinian obligations under both the signed Oslo agreements and the 2003 Roadmap peace plan to jail terrorists and end the incitement to hatred and murder within the PA-controlled media, mosques, schools and youth camps that feeds terror.
In a joint media appearance in New York with Abbas, President Bush stated that, “I strongly support the creation of a Palestinian state. I believe it’s in the interests of the Palestinian people, I believe it’s in the interests of Israel to have a democracy living side-by — democracies living side-by-side in peace. And the fundamental question that I ask is, is their leadership that share the vision and are willing to work hard to achieve the vision? And if the answer to that question is yes, the United States of America will be a strong partner in implementing the vision. I have known the President for quite a while. I am convinced that he is dedicated to the formation of a Palestinian democracy that will live in peace with their neighbor, Israel … I appreciate the fact that you’re fighting the extremists who don’t share the same kind of view. And I believe that the vision of two states, side-by-side in peace, is achievable.” (Bush statement with Abbas at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, September 24).
On September 18, Rice also indicated that her policy is driven by the imperative of creating a Palestinian state: “We’re trying to support the forces in the Middle East, and in this case most especially the Palestinians and the Israelis, who see a future for the Middle East in which former enemies can live in peace and security side by side, people who believe that that is going to be achieved through a negotiated two-state solution, who believe in a two-state solution. And I’ve said on any number of occasions the people who believe in a two-state solution have got to be shown that, in fact, it is possible to have one. We can’t simply continue to say we want a two-state solution. We’ve got to start to move toward one … The Palestinians have waited long enough for their state and the Israelis have waited long enough for the security that’s going to come from having a democratic neighbor” (Rice, Briefing En Route Jerusalem, Shannon, Ireland, September 18).
Other examples of strong praise for Mahmoud Abbas’ PA regime from the Bush Administration:
Secretary Rice: “I want everyone to know, particularly the Palestinian people, how much we admire the leadership of President Abbas as a leader of the Palestinian people … we’ve made a lot of progress over recent years in particular because of the hard work of President Abbas” (State Department, January 12, 2007).
President Bush: “I fully understand that in order to achieve this [peace] vision, there must be leaders willing to speak out and act on behalf of people who yearn for peace, and you are such a leader, Mr. President. I can’t thank you enough for the courage you have shown” (Meeting with Abbas in New York, White House, September 20, 2006).
Bush: “President Abbas is committed to peace” (Address to UN General Assembly, White House, September 19, 2006).
Rice: “I want to take this opportunity to commend President Abbas and his leadership as well as that of his government for their ongoing efforts to enforce the rule of law in the West Bank and in Gaza. These efforts demonstrate the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to ensuring security and tracking down those who perpetrate violent attacks that only delay the achievement of a Palestinian state. There is much work to be done, but President Abbas has taken these actions with the active support of all those in the region and the international community to support a future of peace” (Press conference with Abbas, State Department, July 23, 2005).
Mahmoud Abbas in his own words:
On recognizing Israel: “It is not required of Hamas, or of Fatah, or of the Popular Front to recognize Israel” (Al-Arabiya [Dubai] and PA TV, October 3, 2006).
Fighting Israel: “We have a legitimate right to direct our guns against Israeli occupation … Our rifles, all our rifles are aimed at The Occupation” (Jerusalem Post, January 11, 2007; Independent Media & Review Analysis, January 12, 2007).
On Jews: “The sons of Israel are corrupting humanity on earth” (World Net Daily, January 11, 2007).
On Israel: “the Zionist enemy” (Associated Press, January 4, 2005; CNN.com, January 7, 2005).
On suicide bombers: “Allah loves the martyr” (Wall Street Journal, January 5, 2005).
On wanted Palestinian terrorists: “heroes fighting for freedom” (Age [Melbourne], January 3, 2005); ” Israel calls them murderers, we call them strugglers” (Jerusalem Post, December 25, 2004).
On Palestinian terrorist leaders Yasser Arafat, Hamas’ Ahmad Yasin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Fathi Shikaki: “martyrs” (Palestinian Media Center , September 9, 2005)
On Hamas: “We must unite the Hamas and Fatah blood in the struggle against Israel as we did at the beginning of the intifada. We want a political partnership with Hamas” ( Jerusalem Post, February 5, 2007).
On Yasser Arafat: “It is our duty to implement the principles of Yasser Arafat” (Haaretz, January 3, 2005); “We will continue in the path of the late president until we fulfill all his dreams” (Agence France-Presse, November 11, 2005); “The Palestinian leadership won’t stray from Arafat’s path” (Yediot Ahronot, November 11, 2006)
On disarming Palestinian terrorists: a “red line” that must not be crossed (Washington Times, January 3, 2005)
On jailed Palestinian terrorists: “our heroes.” (Israel National News, May 26, 2006).
On the so-called ‘right of return’ of Palestinian refugees and their millions of descendants which, if implemented would end Israel as a Jewish state: “The issue of the refugees is non-negotiable” (Jerusalem Post, January 11, 2007).
On the Lebanese terrorist group Hizballah: A source of pride and sets an example for the “Arab resistance” (Jerusalem Post, August 6, 2006).
- Saddam Hussein: ” Saddam Hussein has entered history as a symbol of Pan-Arab nationalism” (Independent Media Review and Analysis , December 31, 2006).
Mahmoud Abbas’ acts:
Holocaust denial: He wrote a PhD thesis and published a book denying the Holocaust.
Terrorist group Fatah: He co-founded with arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat the terrorist group Fatah, whose Constitution to this day calls for the destruction of Israel (Article 12) and the use of terrorism against Israelis as an indispensable part of the struggle to achieve that goal (Article 19).
Funding terrorism: as senior PLO official, he funded the Munich massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes in 1972.
Terror & incitement to violence: He has refused to implement the signed Oslo agreements and the 2003 Roadmap peace plan which requires him to fight, arrest, extradite and jail terrorists and confiscate their weaponry and end the incitement to hatred and murder in the PA-controlled media, mosques, schools and youth camps that feeds it.
Terrorists’ plan for more violence: In May 2006, he endorsed the so-called ‘Prisoners’ Plan’, a document produced by jailed Palestinian terrorists, that endorses continued terrorism against Israel, legitimizes the murder of Jews, does not accept Israel’s existence as a Jewish state, abrogates Palestinian obligations under the signed Oslo agreements and the 2003 Roadmap peace plan, and insists on the ‘right of return.’
- Money for suicide bombers’ families: In December 2005, he approved legislation mandating financial benefits to be paid to families of killed Palestinian terrorists.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “We continue to be disappointed with the Bush Administration continuing the counter-productive and deluded policy of lavishing unmerited praise on Mahmoud Abbas as though he were some sort of moderate or peace-maker, regardless of whatever he says or does. Instead, the President and Secretary of State speak of his courage, commitment to peace and progress. To what courage, commitment to peace or progress are they referring? Abbas certainly has not implemented the signed Oslo agreements and the 2003 Roadmap peace plan which requires him to fight, arrest, extradite and jail terrorists and confiscate their weaponry and end the incitement to hatred and murder in the PA-controlled media, mosques, schools and youth camps that feeds it. He has not renamed the streets, schools and sports teams that have been named in honor of suicide bombers and other mass murderers of Israelis. He has not put Israel in the official maps, atlases and textbooks published by or used in the PA.
“Abbas’ misdeeds are not just sins of omission. His acts are just as extreme as his words. Last year, Abbas endorsed the so-called ‘Prisoners’ Plan’, a document produced by jailed Palestinian terrorists, that endorses continued terrorism against Israel, legitimizes the murder of Jews, does not accept Israel’s existence as a Jewish state, abrogates Palestinian obligations under the signed Oslo agreements and the 2003 Roadmap peace plan, and insists on the ‘right of return.’ Abbas has attempted to form a unity government with Hamas, whose Charter calls for the destruction of Israel (Article 15) and the murder of Jews (Article 7). In December 2005, Abbas approved legislation mandating financial benefits to be paid to families of killed Palestinian terrorists. He has stated on Palestinian Television that neither Fatah nor Hamas need recognize Israel. He has provided funds for armed units belonging to Hamas. Are these deeds evidence of courage, commitment to peace and progress, or the very opposite?
“Abbas’ record of words and deeds cannot actually surprise anyone except those who willfully ignore his record. What else would one expect from someone who co-founded with arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat the terrorist group Fatah, which calls to this day in its Constitution for the destruction of Israel (Article 12) and the use of terrorism (Article 19), served as Arafat’s deputy for 40 years and funded the Munich massacre of Israeli athletes in 1972. What would one expect from someone who wrote a PhD and published a book denying the Holocaust?
“It is also very revealing that Secretary Rice has spoken of the need to arrive at a two-state solution, meaning the establishment of a Palestinian state. At no time did she elaborate on the need of Arabs to make peace and accept Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. This is the same short-sighted attitude has been responsible for the many failures of the Oslo process and beyond, especially the constant ignoring of PA violations of signed agreements and the continuing terrorism and incitement to hatred and murder within the PA. The ZOA has noted before that, in this mad rush to set up a Palestinian Arab state, no matter what kind of state it might be, Secretary Rice has been willing to ignore the plain evidence of Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah’s unreconstructed extremism and to proclaim a terror-sponsoring entity that educates its children for ‘martyrdom’ and mass murder as a group of peace-seeking moderates. The Fatah Constitution to this day denounces Zionism as racism, calls for Israel’s destruction and the use of terrorism as an indispensable element in the campaign to attain that goal. No matter what Abbas’ PA does — whether funding Hamas military personnel; appointing terrorists to senior commands , glorifying terrorists in the PA media , naming PA institutions after terrorists, shielding wanted terrorists in Abbas’ presidential compound; approving legislation providing for funds for the family’s of dead terrorists — the Bush Administration has continued to call Abbas and the PA moderates.
“During this Rosh Hashanah season, Israel has been compelled to seal borders because of intelligence warning regarding impending Palestinian terrorist attack. How on earth can you have a situation of trying to set up a situation in which Israel moves towards major concessions and even Palestinian statehood at the very moment that Israel has to seal borders to prevent people coming in to kill Israelis? During the Cold War, the U.S. and Soviets negotiated deals, but only at the end when the Soviet Union had given up its aggressive aims. Imagine, however, if President Kennedy had proposed major concessions to the Soviets when they were sending nuclear missiles to Cuba. The time for negotiations and treaties is when the war is over and the aggressor side has relinquished its ambitions, not before.
“We call upon the Bush Administration to desist in whitewashing this terrorist sponsoring PA regime and start telling the truth about Mahmoud Abbas; to cut all ties with him and the PA and to cease discussing any plans for rewards and concessions to the PA until it acts on its 14-year old commitments to fight, jail and extradite terrorists and end the incitement to hatred and murder of Israelis in the PA-controlled media, mosques, schools and youth camps that feeds terrorism.”
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