In a televised address, his first speech to his compatriots since Israel's retreat from Gaza, Abbas said that all of the above had contributed greatly to Sharon's Disengagement Plan.
"I thank all our people and everyone who assisted us, including Israeli peace forces, allied countries, Arab countries," he said, adding, "I thank the martyrs, headed by the greatest martyr, Yasser Arafat."
"The Palestinian nation must not view our rule over Gaza as the end of the story," Arafat's successor said. "This is just part of the process that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state on all of [Judea, Samaria and Gaza]. We still have a long way to go to get there... The struggle is not over."
"Today Gaza, tomorrow the West Bank and Jerusalem," Abu Mazen stated.
He also had a warning for Hamas - one which was not taken very seriously: "We will no longer tolerate from this day the security anarchy, the armed chaos and the kidnappings. The principle that unites us is that we have one authority, one law and one legal weapon."
But at a Hamas rally of over 10,000 people in Gaza City yesterday, Hamas leader Mahmoud A-Zahar said, "Our weapons will remain in our hands until the Palestinian flag is hoisted in Jerusalem."
A-Zahar also said, "The West Bank awaits the jihad and martyrdom, and Jerusalem should expect more resistance."
"I thank all our people and everyone who assisted us, including Israeli peace forces, allied countries, Arab countries," he said, adding, "I thank the martyrs, headed by the greatest martyr, Yasser Arafat."
"The Palestinian nation must not view our rule over Gaza as the end of the story," Arafat's successor said. "This is just part of the process that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state on all of [Judea, Samaria and Gaza]. We still have a long way to go to get there... The struggle is not over."
"Today Gaza, tomorrow the West Bank and Jerusalem," Abu Mazen stated.
He also had a warning for Hamas - one which was not taken very seriously: "We will no longer tolerate from this day the security anarchy, the armed chaos and the kidnappings. The principle that unites us is that we have one authority, one law and one legal weapon."
But at a Hamas rally of over 10,000 people in Gaza City yesterday, Hamas leader Mahmoud A-Zahar said, "Our weapons will remain in our hands until the Palestinian flag is hoisted in Jerusalem."
A-Zahar also said, "The West Bank awaits the jihad and martyrdom, and Jerusalem should expect more resistance."