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PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas (AP file)
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| By Jerusalem Newswire March 7, 2005 |
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A Palestinian Arab armed and trained by the terrorist infrastructure the PA refuses to dismantle managed to slaughter five Israeli Jews in Tel Aviv last month. That's Israel's fault, PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday.
"If you ask me who is responsible, the Israelis are responsible, Abbas said of the February 25 bomb attack on a popular beachfront nightclub.
In an interview with Time Magazine , Abbas drew the conclusion that "The bombers came from the suburb of Tulkarm to Tel Aviv, crossing the wall [Israel's security fence]. So who is responsible? The wall and the Israelis."
Turning to the diplomatic front, Abbas slammed US President George W. Bush's April 2004 letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in which the American acknowledged that millions of so-called Palestinian refugees would not be allowed to flood the Jewish state -- a right that Abbas demands in return for peace.
"President Bush doesn't have the right to prejudice final-status issues. These issues should be discussed in the final stages, not now," Abbas said. "He can't make commitments on behalf of the Palestinian people. It is our right to say yes or no."
PA sources said Abbas is scheduled to meet with Bush next month. That report has yet to be confirmed by the White House.
Bush constantly praises Abbas as a "moderate" despite his rich terrorist past, and is not expected to push the Palestinian leader too hard on his unfulfilled obligation to eliminate the threat of anti-Jewish Arab terror.
In a meeting with Jordan's foreign minister Sunday, Sharon said Abbas's policy of negotiating with and attempting to integrate the terror groups into the PA was certain to backfire and leave the killers stronger than ever.
Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the like "will not give up terror activity" just because Abbas asks them to, Sharon said. The terror groups have publicly stated they will not willingly relinquish the "military option" until all of Israel is conquered.
"Therefore, the more we progress in the [peace] process ... we'll be hostages of those organizations. We are very interested in making peace, but it depends on the other side, too," Sharon explained.
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