Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) angered many heretofore optimistic Israeli officials Tuesday when he called Israel "the Zionist enemy" – a term even Arafat refrained from using with regard to the Jewish State.
Abu Mazen is likely to win the PA election this Sunday and become Yasser Arafat's successor as head of the Palestinian Authority, but he is not taking any chances. He is taking a very extremist tone in order to ensure that even Hamas supporters vote for him.
Abbas made the reference to "the Zionist enemy" during a rally in Gaza's Khan Yunis slums, from which many of the rocket and mortar-shell attacks on Jewish communities in Gush Katif and the western Negev have emanated.
"We are praying for the souls of our martyrs who were killed... by the shells of the Zionist enemy," Abbas told a cheering mob. Reports of the speech's hostile tone, which followed an IDF counter-terror operation, have made international headlines.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom refused to accept any electoral excuses for Abu Mazen. "We cannot accept the argument that Abbas' statements stem from campaigning motives," Shalom said of the PLO chief.
Previous statements by Abbas, in which he criticized continuing PA terrorism and said it was a mistake, were widely covered by the Western press. "If Abu Mazen meant [in his earlier statements] that launching attacks from Gaza harms the Palestinians, Israel expects him to translate his words into actions," Shalom said.
Israeli government officials have refrained from publicly criticizing Abbas in public since the death of Yasser Arafat two months ago. “This is the worst we have heard in a long time,” said Shalom, explaining his decision to break the silence.
In recent days, Abu Mazen has embraced various terror groups, promising them he would not fight terrorism on behalf of Israel. In a campaign speech Monday, he vowed never to take up arms against terror groups. "Palestinians taking up arms against each other will not happen," Abbas pledged. Last week, he was carried on the shoulders of armed terrorists during a campaign rally. "They are freedom fighters . . . and should live a dignified and safe life," said Abbas, adding that his people “owed a debt” to the various terror groups.
“Without a doubt, what Abu Mazen said was intolerable and unacceptable, and it cannot serve as a basis for any future cooperation," said Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. As opposed to Minister Shalom, however, Olmert went on to excuse Abbas’ words by intimating that Abu Mazen uttered them merely to garner votes, and was not showing his true colors. “After January 9 [Election Day], we will relate to such comments and judge them differently than we do now," said Olmert.
Abu Mazen has adopted Arafat's hard-line stances on the major issues in dispute. He demands control of eastern Jerusalem, a PLO state, a return to the 1967 borders, and the "right of return."
Abu Mazen is likely to win the PA election this Sunday and become Yasser Arafat's successor as head of the Palestinian Authority, but he is not taking any chances. He is taking a very extremist tone in order to ensure that even Hamas supporters vote for him.
Abbas made the reference to "the Zionist enemy" during a rally in Gaza's Khan Yunis slums, from which many of the rocket and mortar-shell attacks on Jewish communities in Gush Katif and the western Negev have emanated.
"We are praying for the souls of our martyrs who were killed... by the shells of the Zionist enemy," Abbas told a cheering mob. Reports of the speech's hostile tone, which followed an IDF counter-terror operation, have made international headlines.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom refused to accept any electoral excuses for Abu Mazen. "We cannot accept the argument that Abbas' statements stem from campaigning motives," Shalom said of the PLO chief.
Previous statements by Abbas, in which he criticized continuing PA terrorism and said it was a mistake, were widely covered by the Western press. "If Abu Mazen meant [in his earlier statements] that launching attacks from Gaza harms the Palestinians, Israel expects him to translate his words into actions," Shalom said.
Israeli government officials have refrained from publicly criticizing Abbas in public since the death of Yasser Arafat two months ago. “This is the worst we have heard in a long time,” said Shalom, explaining his decision to break the silence.
In recent days, Abu Mazen has embraced various terror groups, promising them he would not fight terrorism on behalf of Israel. In a campaign speech Monday, he vowed never to take up arms against terror groups. "Palestinians taking up arms against each other will not happen," Abbas pledged. Last week, he was carried on the shoulders of armed terrorists during a campaign rally. "They are freedom fighters . . . and should live a dignified and safe life," said Abbas, adding that his people “owed a debt” to the various terror groups.
“Without a doubt, what Abu Mazen said was intolerable and unacceptable, and it cannot serve as a basis for any future cooperation," said Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. As opposed to Minister Shalom, however, Olmert went on to excuse Abbas’ words by intimating that Abu Mazen uttered them merely to garner votes, and was not showing his true colors. “After January 9 [Election Day], we will relate to such comments and judge them differently than we do now," said Olmert.
Abu Mazen has adopted Arafat's hard-line stances on the major issues in dispute. He demands control of eastern Jerusalem, a PLO state, a return to the 1967 borders, and the "right of return."