A state with Jerusalem as its capital, the evacuation of all the Yesha communities, and the "right of return" for millions of Arabs – these are just some of the demands on which "we will not compromise," he said.
Though the Fatah candidate had previously said he was willing to talk with Israel with no pre-conditions, he threatened Saturday that Israel must free imprisoned terrorists in order to pave the way for negotiations with him. Among those whose release he demands are terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for murder.
"There is nothing to be surprised about," said Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman today. "He is being totally consistent, and whatever he said yesterday is that which he has always said. It's true that he has come out against terrorism; yesterday he said, as he has said in the past, that the intifada should be done with stones, not guns. But in terms of the main issues of the conflict – a Palestinian state, Jerusalem, a return to the pre-Six Day War borders, and the refugees, he has always taken Arafat's line. He might even be more extreme than Arafat on the refugees issue, as he himself was born in Tzfat... He recently told a crowd of refugees in Lebanon that he will not sign an agreement without guaranteeing their return to their former homes in the Galilee and vicinity. He's serious about this."
Huberman emphasized that there is room to believe that Abu Mazen will sincerely try to reduce the violence against Israel, "but without making real war against Hamas... He also has no intention of giving up on the basic demands listed above. This is also the opinion of Abu Ala and Nabil Shaath and all the PA leaders. The only thing they are willing to consider is an exchange of territory, one for one. That is to say, if they 'allow' us to have the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, we will be required to compensate them with the same amount of land somewhere else."
The Palestinian Authority general election is scheduled to be held on Jan. 9. Israeli government and defense officials have promised often that they will withdraw their forces from PA-controlled areas for the election.
Referring to the issue of the refugees as "important and dangerous," Abu Mazen told hundreds of supporters Saturday, "We will not withdraw from our demands for peace based on justice. Without justice, there will be no peace. If there will be peace here, there will be peace in the Middle East and in the rest of the world."
Abu Mazen cast doubt on the Israeli government's proposed plan to dismantle 25 Jewish communities and abandon the land to the Arabs. "Do you really think the withdrawal will take place as the Israelis say?" he rhetorically asked the crowd.
Though the Fatah candidate had previously said he was willing to talk with Israel with no pre-conditions, he threatened Saturday that Israel must free imprisoned terrorists in order to pave the way for negotiations with him. Among those whose release he demands are terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for murder.
"There is nothing to be surprised about," said Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman today. "He is being totally consistent, and whatever he said yesterday is that which he has always said. It's true that he has come out against terrorism; yesterday he said, as he has said in the past, that the intifada should be done with stones, not guns. But in terms of the main issues of the conflict – a Palestinian state, Jerusalem, a return to the pre-Six Day War borders, and the refugees, he has always taken Arafat's line. He might even be more extreme than Arafat on the refugees issue, as he himself was born in Tzfat... He recently told a crowd of refugees in Lebanon that he will not sign an agreement without guaranteeing their return to their former homes in the Galilee and vicinity. He's serious about this."
Huberman emphasized that there is room to believe that Abu Mazen will sincerely try to reduce the violence against Israel, "but without making real war against Hamas... He also has no intention of giving up on the basic demands listed above. This is also the opinion of Abu Ala and Nabil Shaath and all the PA leaders. The only thing they are willing to consider is an exchange of territory, one for one. That is to say, if they 'allow' us to have the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, we will be required to compensate them with the same amount of land somewhere else."
The Palestinian Authority general election is scheduled to be held on Jan. 9. Israeli government and defense officials have promised often that they will withdraw their forces from PA-controlled areas for the election.
Referring to the issue of the refugees as "important and dangerous," Abu Mazen told hundreds of supporters Saturday, "We will not withdraw from our demands for peace based on justice. Without justice, there will be no peace. If there will be peace here, there will be peace in the Middle East and in the rest of the world."
Abu Mazen cast doubt on the Israeli government's proposed plan to dismantle 25 Jewish communities and abandon the land to the Arabs. "Do you really think the withdrawal will take place as the Israelis say?" he rhetorically asked the crowd.