"The UN allows the Palestinian people to use the armed struggle… the rifle will never fall" - says senior Fatah official

Official PA TV program Palestine This Morning, on the anniversary of former PLO and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat’s death

Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki: “[UN] Resolution 3236 was passed which allows the Palestinian people to use all types of struggle – including the armed struggle … [Arafat] said to them: ‘‘I’ve come to you bearing an olive branch in one hand and a revolutionary’s gun in the other hand. Do not let the green branch fall from my hand.’’ He did not say: ‘‘[Let] the rifle [fall],’’ because the rifle will never fall, even today. We don't want to use the struggle, because we know that Israel is waiting for the opportunity to erase us from the land.
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PA leaders and officials have legitimized Palestinian violence by quoting UN resolution 3236 which "recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to regain its rights by all means." The PA interprets "all means" as including violence against civilians, but has chosen to ignore the continuation of the resolution which states that the use of "all means" should be "in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations..." The UN Charter prohibits targeting civilians, even in war. Chapter 1, Article 1, opens by saying that "international disputes" should be resolved "by peaceful means."

Abbas Zaki also holds the position as Fatah Commissioner for Arab and China Relations.