Jibril Rajoub
Jibril RajoubIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The Palestinian Authority (PA) never rejected the option of violence against Israel, and will consider a return to terrorism if the current round of negotiations fails, senior Fatah member Jibril Rajoub has told Iranian media.

According to Maariv/nrg Rajoub, who is in Iran as a representative of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, showed clear support for terrorism as a tactic in an interview with Iran’s Al-Alam television.

“If the talks fail, armed struggle against [Israel] could be a strategic solution for the Palestinian people,” Rajoub said, emphasizing that Palestinian terrorist groups “never abandoned the solution of an armed uprising.”

His words echoed sentiments made last month by a senior member of Abbas' Fatah party, Abbas Zaki, who told Syrian state TV that any concessions the PA gained from US-brokered talks would simply be the "first step" towards the destruction of Israel.

Rajoub is in Iran as PA-Iran ties continue to strengthen despite Iran’s involvement in the war in Syria, which has had a severe impact on “Palestinian refugee” communities in that country.

PA leaders’ approach of ostensibly supporting talks with Israel while threatening another “Intifada” terror war has led some Israeli leaders, notable among them Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, to accuse the PA of remaining openly hostile despite negotiations.

Rajoub’s statements regarding a possible terror war come as a fellow senior PA official, Yasser Abed Rabbo, openly rejects the proposals put forth by United States Secretary of State John Kerry.

While on the Israeli side politicians and analysts have warned that the proposals in question require dangerous concessions, Abed Rabbo claimed that the suggestions did not go far enough in meeting the PA’s demands. He rejected Kerry’s ideas as “Israeli ideas.”

According to Maariv, Rabbo emphasized the lack of US support for the PA’s demand regarding the “right of return” – the “return” to Israel of millions of descendants of Arabs who left pre-state Israel during the War of Independence.

The “right of return” is guaranteed by international law, Abed Rabbo argued. He also accused US diplomats of being vague regarding highly contested issues such as the status of Jerusalem – which the PA has demanded be split – the Jordan Valley, and security.

Kerry has put heavy pressure on Israeli leaders to accept his plan, going so far as to warn of a third "Intifada" terror war and mass international boycotts of Israel if talks fail.