Abbas Unilaterally Disengages from Oslo Accords Despite U.S. Pressure
http://www.investigativeproject.org/4989/abbas-unilaterally-disengages-from-oslo-accords
The Palestinian Authority (PA) no longer adheres to the 1993 Oslo Accords, President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Wednesday in an address to the United Nations General Assembly, eliciting a swift rebuttal from the Israeli government.
Abbas blamed the Jewish state for fuelling hostilities in Jerusalem and declared that Israel must “fully assume all its responsibilities as an occupying power … our patience for a long time has come to an end.”
However, the Israeli government was quick to denounce Abbas’ accusations as “deceitful.”
In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Abbas’ speech misrepresented reality and contributed to further incitement of violence against Israelis.
“Abu Mazen’s [Abbas] speech was filled with falsehoods that will only promote incitement and disaster in the Middle East,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.
“Unlike the Palestinians, Israel preserves the status quo on the Temple Mount and will continue to do so, based on agreements with Jordan and the Wakf,” the statement said.
Abbas has rejected Netanyahu’s calls for new direct negotiations, which “is the best proof that his face is not turned in the direction of peace.”
Last week, Abbas glorified Palestinians fighting Israelis in Jerusalem and encouraged Palestinians to prevent Jews from entering the Al-Aqsa mosque by any means necessary.
“The Al-Aqsa [Mosque] is ours… and they have no right to defile it with their filthy feet. We will not allow them to, and we will do everything in our power to protect Jerusalem… We bless every drop of blood that has been spilled for Jerusalem, which is clean and pure blood, blood spilled for Allah, Allah willing. Every martyr (Shahid) will reach Paradise, and everyone wounded will be rewarded by Allah,” Abbas said in a speech, segments of which were aired on official PA TV and posted on his website.
Before Wednesday’s speech, reports indicated Abbas would not make any dramatic policy announcements. An adviser hinted that American pressure deterred Abbas from announcing Palestine as a state “under Israeli occupation.”
Nevertheless, Abbas went ahead with the unilateral declaration in violation of previous understandings that underpinned relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority since 1993.
Netanyahu is scheduled to speak at the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday and is expected to counter many of Abbas’ inflammatory points from Wednesday’s address.
Related Topics: IPT News, Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, Oslo Accords, Benjamin Netanyahu, United Nations, Palestinian incitement
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