Abbas’ P.A. & Hamas Agree: We Oppose Israel’s Existence
News Press Release
April 26, 2017

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has pointed to new statements by both Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’ ruling Fatah Party, which controls the PA, and Hamas, the terrorist organization that controls Gaza, indicating their continuing non-acceptance of Israel and desire to replace her with an Arab-dominated state.

On official Palestinian Authority TV, Fatah Central Committee member and Commissioner of Treasury and Economy, Muhammad Shtayyeh, openly emphasized Fatah’s refusal to recognize Israel, saying, “The Fatah Movement never demanded that Hamas recognize Israel. To this moment, Fatah does not recognize Israel. The topic of recognition of Israel has not been raised in any of Fatah’s conferences” (Official PA TV, ‘Topic of the Day,’ March 26, 2017, translation in Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) bulletin, ‘Fatah leader: Fatah and Hamas agree Israel has no right to exist,’ April 21, 2017).

Similarly, Hamas’ Political Bureau head, Mahmoud Al-Zahar,  stated on Lebanese TV that “Our principles say that our land is all of Palestine, including the land that is under occupation [i.e., Israel] … [The proposal to establish a Palestinian state in Judea/Samaria and Gaza] is a tactical step that does not harm the right of the Palestinians to all of the land of Palestine” (Amad, independent Palestinian news website, March 28, 2017, translation in PMW bulletin, ‘Fatah leader: Fatah and Hamas agree Israel has no right to exist,’ April 21, 2017).

To this moment, Abbas’ Fatah does not recognize Israel. The topic of recognition of Israel has not been raised in any of Fatah’s conferences.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “The idea that the Palestinian Arab leadership and society accept Israel and desire a durable peace settlement with the Jewish state is one of the most persistent myths that one hears repeated endlessly.

“In this context, it is worth noting that Daniel Polisar of Jerusalem’s Shalem College, in a recent examination of literally hundreds of Palestinian surveys, established that majorities of Palestinians reject Palestinian statehood alongside Israel by an average of more than 3 to 1.

“Many years ago, I worked with two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling. Professor Pauling would frequently ask,  ‘Mort, what does the evidence require us to believe?’

“These sobering and tragic facts require us to realize that Palestinians do not accept Israel’s legitimacy and permanence and do not seek a durable peace settlement with her. 

“President Trump, in his press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in February, publicly pointed to the “tremendous hate” inculcated into Palestinian youth and non-acceptance of Israel that would have to change before peace becomes possible. 

“In this he is correct. The ‘ultimate deal’ that brings peace will have to await a change of heart and direction in Palestinian Arab Islamist society.”

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