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Abbas’ advisor: Terror is “legal,” but only PLO can decide on “the armed ‎option”‎

Nan Jacques Zilberdik  |

PA Chairman Abbas' advisor:

  • Terror against Israel is "legal" – "no one can evade this fact"
     
  • "The armed option" must be decided on as "a national decision" and "be made in the framework of the PLO"

 

The PA is trying to have its cake and eat it too!

On the one hand, the PA is still angry that Hamas launched its terror war against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, without consulting it first, and has been able to take all the credit for successfully massacring over 1,100 Israelis. As a result, Hamas has overwhelming support among Palestinians.

Accordingly, despite the animosity, the PA needs Hamas on board with the PLO, due to the vast support among Palestinians for Hamas. Despite the destruction Hamas has brought on the Gaza Strip, the terror movement is still 2.5-3 times more popular than its rival Fatah, the ruling party in the PA/PLO.

So, in order to "have its cake" and "eat it too," PA Chairman Abbas' advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash made the following statement, sending two messages that stand somewhat at odds with each other:

  1. The PA/PLO endorses terror as "legal" and does not oppose "the armed option"
     
  2. Hamas or other terror organizations are not allowed to single-handedly decide and launch terror attacks. Such decisions must be made "together" and only "in the framework of the PA/PLO" – in other words: Hamas must subordinate to the PA/PLO

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Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "It is unacceptable to say that the resistance (i.e., Palestinian terror) is legal or illegal – it is legal. No one can cancel this fact or evade this fact. But the resistance needs to be a comprehensive national project. Not a project of one movement (i.e., Hamas) that drags all the Palestinians after its decision. No, if we want to choose the armed option, we must all go together in a national decision. The national decision needs to be made in the framework of the PLO, the sole legal representative of the Palestinian people. No faction that feels like carrying out armed resistance can take the Palestinian people together with it without taking into account the considerations, results, and consequences."

[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Facebook page, Nov. 1, 2024]

Palestinian Media Watch has documented that the PA, and Al-Habbash specifically, have criticized Hamas for not consulting with the PLO before it attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, launching the 2023 Gaza war. However, they have never criticized Hamas for the massacre itself, but rather applauded and celebrated it.

Hamas war on Israel October 2023

Mahmoud Al-Habbash

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