Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas has fired shamed former chief of staff Rafiq al-Husseini, who was videotaped and accused of offering employment to a woman in exchange for sexual favors.
On Tuesday, the al-Quds newspaper published a letter by Abbas stating that an investigation of al-Husseini by a commission of inquiry had determined that he did not commit acts of nepotism, blackmail, or corruption. However, the letter stated that al-Husseini should resign because of "personal errors" that he should have avoided.
Two years ago, hidden-camera footage was taken of an undressed al-Husseini climbing into bed while speaking to a woman in the adjoining room. Intelligence officers were then seen entering. In February, Israel's Channel 10 television station broadcast the story, which led to a scandal within the PA.
Denies Wrongdoing
For his part, al-Husseini not only denies any wrongdoing, but says he was framed by Israel, which set up the whole embarrassing saga as a "trap."
In an interview with The Media Line news organization, al-Husseini charged Israel with dubbing and fabricating the tape in order to incriminate him. Al-Husseini told the reporter that he was actually in the room with two women, that they were both over 50 years old, and that there were no unseemly acts taking place between him and them in exchange for employment.
However, when asked how the tape appeared on Israeli television, he said "This was a trap for me…. The film was taken in East Jerusalem under the [sic] full Israeli knowledge."
Al-Husseini has accepted Abbas' suggestion to resign, and says he harbors no resentment toward the Palestinian Authority leadership that made the recommendation.
On political matters, al-Husseini said Palestinian Authority inhabitants believe U.S. President Barack Obama is "being subjected to a campaign by right-wing Israeli supporters" like AIPAC, but is "trying his best to create or establish a Palestinian state" in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.
While he agreed that removing even a small number Jews from those regions of the biblical Jewish heartland will be "very, very difficult", he said that "without thinking of removing almost all the settlements in [Judea and Samaria], there cannot be a viable Palestinian state."
Now that he is no longer PA Chief of Staff, al-Husseini told The Media Line he will spend his time trying to cement Arab rights to Jerusalem, as well as fighting against corruption.