Palestinian Authority prime minister Salam Fayyad gave a speech Monday at the Al Quds University in Jerusalem. Fayyad's speech followed a policy speech given by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at Bar Ilan University.
Fayyad called for the creation of a PA-led Arab state “by the end of next year or within two years at most.”
In order to create a PA state, PA Arabs must unify, he said. He called on Arabs to create the institutions needed to run a state in order to win international support for their cause.
While he promoted the creation of a PA state, Fayyad ruled out talks with Israel toward that goal. The PA should not negotiate with Israel until Israel freezes all construction in Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria, he said.
Netanyahu has declined to freeze construction in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, insisting that Jewish life be allowed to continue as usual while Israel and the PA negotiate. Israeli leaders have called to keep major Jewish “settlement blocs” in Judea and Samaria under Israeli control whether or not a PA state is created.
Fayyad called on the international community to push Netanyahu to stop construction. In addition, the world should pressure Israel to allow goods to enter and exit Gaza freely, he said.
Hamas: Fayyad Most Dangerous
Hamas spokesman Fauzi Barhoum issued a response to Fayyad's speech on Monday night. Despite Fayyad's call to open borders with Gaza, he was harshly criticized by Hamas, which referred to him as “the greatest threat facing the Palestinian people.”
Fayyad “has no right to speak of national unity,” Barhoum said. Fayyad “believes in cooperating with the Zionist enemy on security projects,” he added.