Shimon Peres
Shimon PeresFlash 90

Former President Shimon Peres on Thursday criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who, according to Peres, is failing to promote a diplomatic initiative with the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Speaking with Army Radio, Peres did, however, compliment PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas who, he claimed, fights terrorism.

Asked why Abbas does not condemn the ongoing acts of terrorism against Israelis, Peres claimed that words do not matter.

"Abu Mazen did some things that we ourselves say, that this is the first time that a Palestinian organization fights terrorism, and the IDF said that in a loud voice. When did you have that before?" he said.

"We need an explicit vision, followed by execution. If there is no execution, then the speeches are not so important," Peres said with respect to Netanyahu’s statements in favor of a Palestinian state.

The former president also said he does not accept the claim that Abbas is not a partner for a peace agreement.

"This is a fact that Abbas fights terrorism, says that he is in favor of peace, and it is also a fact that most Palestinians want peace," he claimed.

Peres in the interview ignored Abbas’s blatant incitement against Israelis, which he has continued during the current terror wave.

Just this week, Abbas was revealed to have made shocking statements two weeks ago, when he said that the murder of dozens of Israelis and the wounding of hundreds others is part of a "peaceful uprising."

The call for a "peaceful" terror wave that Abbas included statements by Abbas in early September, in which he blessed every drop of blood shed in Jerusalem "for Allah" and called to stop "filthy" Jews from visiting the Temple Mount.

In early October as the terror wave began gaining steam, Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said that murdering Jews is a "national duty." In early November Abbas also ordered full military funerals for terrorists.

As for Peres’s claims that Abbas wants peace, just last month the PA chairman admitted for the first time that he rejected the offer of a Palestinian state back in 2008.