"The Palestinian Authority condemned the terrorist attacks." So proclaim the headlines in many news reports in Israel, the U.S., and around the world. What's behind these condemnations? Nothing at all, says Middle East expert Prof. Rafi Yisraeli of the Hebrew University - and they even cause damage.
Speaking with Arutz-7 today, Prof. Yisraeli said that there are at least three aspects to these condemnations that must be noted:
"For one thing, they always say that the attacks cause harm to the Palestinian cause - and not that they're morally wrong. This means that when the attacks suit their purposes, they will be perfectly acceptable. Secondly, Abu Mazen is trying to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas - and it appears as if Israel may agree. But this means nothing at all, because at the end of the ceasefire period, they'll just start right up once again killing Jews."
A third point Yisraeli mentioned is that these "condemnations" are accepted happily by the Americans and even by some Israelis, "but the fact is that they [the PA spokesmen] only condemn the 'attack' - without a word about the perpetrators themselves. Let's see Abu Mazen say that he condemns Hamas or Islamic Jihad or Fatah!"
Prof. Yisraeli also had sharp words for the "spin" placed upon the words of condemnation:
"They always say that they condemn the 'cycle of violence' and the 'killing of innocents on both sides.' This is simply untrue. There is no cycle of violence, and there aren't two sides: There is just one side that declared war on us, and we then defend ourselves. Any other presentation of the situation is pointless and not true."
Speaking with Arutz-7 today, Prof. Yisraeli said that there are at least three aspects to these condemnations that must be noted:
"For one thing, they always say that the attacks cause harm to the Palestinian cause - and not that they're morally wrong. This means that when the attacks suit their purposes, they will be perfectly acceptable. Secondly, Abu Mazen is trying to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas - and it appears as if Israel may agree. But this means nothing at all, because at the end of the ceasefire period, they'll just start right up once again killing Jews."
A third point Yisraeli mentioned is that these "condemnations" are accepted happily by the Americans and even by some Israelis, "but the fact is that they [the PA spokesmen] only condemn the 'attack' - without a word about the perpetrators themselves. Let's see Abu Mazen say that he condemns Hamas or Islamic Jihad or Fatah!"
Prof. Yisraeli also had sharp words for the "spin" placed upon the words of condemnation:
"They always say that they condemn the 'cycle of violence' and the 'killing of innocents on both sides.' This is simply untrue. There is no cycle of violence, and there aren't two sides: There is just one side that declared war on us, and we then defend ourselves. Any other presentation of the situation is pointless and not true."