Palestinian Terror Factions Praise Abbas’s U.N. Speech

TEL AVIV — Palestinian terrorist organizations have been praising Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for his speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, calling it a recognition by the Palestinian president of the failure of the approach of political negotiations.

Hamas released a special statement saying that it, “followed the speech of the Palestinian Authority president with great interest. This speech contained within it a recognition of the failure of the plan for a political solution with the occupation and contained a new approach regarding the paths before the Palestinian people to procure their rights by all means against the occupation.”

Hamas, like other Palestinian factions, refer to Israel as the “occupation.”

Hamas criticized Abbas’ reference to the issue of resistance and his stance that he opposes all forms of terror, but praised Abbas’ efforts to send a delegation of the national unity government to the Gaza Strip, “and we will do everything possible so it will succeed in its mission.”

The National Front for the Liberation of Palestine, whose members murdered the former Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi, also praised the Palestinian president for his speech. In a statement, the organization said that Abbas’ speech, “Clearly presented the steps of the Zionist entity against the Palestinian people and against their national rights and presented the position from the settlement enterprise and the imperialist occupation.”

The organization especially praised, “the connection between the occupation and the apartheid that ended in South Africa.” According to the statement, the president delivered the message that, “The occupation can’t be allowed to continue without there being a price while emphasizing the need to create an independent Palestinian state or a country on the land of historic Palestine from the sea to the river that gives Palestinians full equality.”

From the river to the sea is a popular Palestinian phrase that refers to the destruction of Israel.

Like Hamas, the National Front for the Liberation of Palestine also criticized Abbas’ statements that the Palestinians are opposed to terror, statements that, according to the organization, “give a green light to Netanyahu’s government, which is trying to paint the resistance of the Palestinian people in the colors of terror.”

But those in Abbas’ own movement were quick to celebrate his comments that if a Palestinian state is not established, the Palestinians will demand to receive full rights to state. Fatah’s official Facebook page was quick to post a photo of a Palestinian child with a picture of a map that included all the territory that is modern-day Israel.