Abbas: Israel "would have destroyed the Al-Aqsa [Mosque]" if it could

Egyptian TV host: "From Bethlehem to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Mr. President, we see a continuous Judaization and desecration of the holy places. What are the practical measures against this [Israeli] plan?"
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: "If the Israelis were allowed to go further, they would have gone further and destroyed the Al-Aqsa [Mosque]. They would have destroyed the Al-Aqsa [Mosque], but I don’t think they will do it... The Israelis are now far more careful in all their steps, because we can hurt them legally and diplomatically - it isn't 'diplomatic terrorism.' We can hurt them legally and diplomatically in the whole world if they continue to behave like that."

[Official PA TV, June 8, 2014; Egyptian TV Channel Al-Balad, June 7, 2014]