News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas, whom the United States, Israel and most media have labeled as a moderate, told supporters in Ramallah that it is legitimate "to turn rifles against the occupation." Abbas made a plea for Arab unity, saying "if there will not be one authority and one weapon, there will be no Palestinian existence."

--Arab Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi delivered a fiery speech in Ramallah, encouraging Palestinian Authority (PA) Arabs to fight the "occupation" until they take over all of the Israeli land according to the 1949 Armistice agreement.

--A left-wing Knesset member criticized Arab MK Ahmed Tibi for calling on Fatah supporters in a Ramallah rally to "continue the struggle" until an Arab state is established. "As soon as there are political calls there for a struggle, [Tibi] is essentially crossing the line and creating an impossible situation," MK Vilan (Meretz) declared. Vilan added that Tibi expressed "total identification" with Fatah, referring to himself and his audience as "we" and to Israelis as "they" even though, said Vilan, Tibi represents all Knesset members and the entire Israeli population.

Tibi was PLO founder Yasser Arafat's personal advisor for years before entering the Knesset

--Danny Ayalon, who recently ended his term as Israeli ambassador to Washington, has volunteered to work with the Nefesh B'Nefesh program to encourage Aliyah, immigration to Israel. "Once we reach out, I'm sure the reservoir of people will increase," Ayalon said.