Abbas Spins Good Will as 'Weak'

Hana Levi Julian

The government’s release of almost 200 Palestinian Authority terrorists, two of whom had “blood on their hands” from the actual murders of Jews, backfired, according to a report by media watchdog organization, the Palestinian Media Watch (PMW).


The latest “good will gesture” by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, meant to “strengthen the negotiations” in final status talks, simply led to an enhanced image of a weakened Jewish State, said PMW.

In its September 2 bulletin, the organization said PA Arabs are being fed media images that released terrorists, many of whom attempted to murder Jews, are heroes. Their release was seen as a sign of submission, rather than a gesture of good will, said PMW, adding that it was also seen as a precedent for the future release of all PA terrorists held in Israeli jails – including 3,450 terrorists who were convicted of murder.

It noted that the chairman of the Palestinian National Council said on PA TV on August 25, “The Palestinian leadership has managed to secure a Palestinian victory for the Palestinian people by breaking down Israeli conditions and by forcing Israel to abandon the idea it has attempted to entrench according to which some prisoners have blood on their hands… [ie: sentenced to life for murder]”

A day later, the Al-Ayyam newspaper wrote, “Hajj Mahmoud Issa Amaira, who is nearing 60, said: ‘The entire people should welcome al-Utbah and Abu Ali Yatta [released terrorist murderers] today, for they are proof to us that prison walls do not close forever on anyone.’ …

“Bethlehem resident al-Uzzah, who was herself released from prison a year ago, said, ‘There is no comparison to our celebration today, following the release of Sa’id al-Utbah and Abu Ali Yattah. Israel’s so-called red lines are imaginary and a thing of the past.’”

Mixed Messages and Outright Lies
The messages to the PA public from Mahmoud Abbas that negate the viability of negotiations with Israel as a legitimate peace partner are not new, nor for that matter are his messages that negate the very existence of the Jewish State itself.

As far back as 2006, Abbas lied to the international world in his courteous English-language speeches, while delivering fiery anti-Israel rhetoric in his native Arabic.


A PMW video clip of a speech by Abbas on October 3, 2006 documents one such instance in which Abbas told the Arab world on Al-Arabiya satellite TV that not only did the Hamas terror organization not have to recognize the State of Israel – neither did his own Fatah faction.

The next day he told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice he had demanded that Hamas recognize Israel.


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