Senior Fatah leader Abbas Zaki
Senior Fatah leader Abbas ZakiReuters

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party is not ruling out a violent struggle against Israel, a senior member of the party recently said.

“None of us, especially in Fatah, has ruled out the military options,” declared Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki in an interview which aired on February 26 on Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television.

The interview was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

“There is a big difference between addressing the consciences of the enemies, so that they will listen to you and so that you can denounce your rival, and between being unable to restrain the masses, when sacrifices are warranted, and there is hope [for gains] through resistance and confrontation,” said Zaki.

“None of us, especially in Fatah, has ruled out the military options. We have not forgotten our principles or our goals – not even at our sixth congress, which was held in Bethlehem [in August 2009], where we adhered to our entire legacy of struggle, so that it can be resorted to at the right time,” he added.

This is not the first time that Zaki has issued threats against Israel. Just two months ago, he told Syrian TV that any peace agreement will simply be the "first stage" in eradicating Israel altogether.

In response to concern expressed by the interviewer that any deal would be "deficient", insofar as it would "only" require Israel to cede Judea and Samaria, a smiling Zaki urged calm.

"You can relax. We find ourselves united for the first time. Even the most extreme among us, Hamas, or the fighting forces, want a state within the '67 borders [sic]. Afterward, we [will] have something to say, because the inspiring idea cannot be achieved all at once. [Rather] in stages," he responded.

Fatah is often touted as a “moderate peace partner” of Israel, but its leaders have continued to threaten Israel and incite against it, even as talks has continued.

On a recent trip to Iran, senior Fatah member Jibril Rajoub pledged to continue “the resistance” against the Jewish state.

Months before that, the same Rajoub threatened to use a nuclear weapon against Israel.

Throughout the peace process, the PA has continued to glorify terrorists who murdered innocent Israelis.