PLO official calls for Israel's destruction; says Israel wants to grab all Muslim lands

It's one story when PLO officials speak to Western diplomats and to the media.

But in Pakistan, their real feelings shine through:

Speakers at an international conference on Palestine said that Israel is an illegitimate state that must cease to exist and an independent sovereign state of Palestine must be established. International conference on "Palestine: Manifestation of Muslim Ummah's Unity" was held under the aegis of Palestine Foundation of Pakistan at Radio Pakistan auditorium here recently.

The photo on the lectern is Ayatollah Khomeini.

Mohammad Zazeh, a leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), speaking at the conference said that the post-Gulf War II situation compelled them to reach Oslo Accord but that should not be misunderstood because the PLO never considered Israel as a legitimate state. "Israel is an illegitimate state. Palestine belongs to Palestinians. An independent state of Palestine is what the Palestinians will get recognised," he said.

He said that Israel is a Zionist project that is aimed at grabbing the Muslim land from Morocco to Pakistan therefore all Muslims have to remain vigilant and foil the nefarious designs of Zionist enemy.

"Palestine and al Quds belong to all Arabs and Muslims. This is sacred land. Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) had gone to Meraj from this holy place therefore that sacred place should be liberated from the Zionists," he vowed.

Of course, Zazeh was only one voice of the chorus of crazy:

Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh's secretary general Taj Haider said that Israel has never been existed [sic] in the history of the world. He said that it is an illegitimate state imposed in the heart of Islam by the global imperialist powers.

Allama Aijaz Behishti, central leader of Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, cited that great revolutionary leader Imam Khomeini declared Palestine an integral part of Islam. He emphasised on three points that awakening of thoughts, establishment of funds and united efforts of the Ummah are much needed to liberate Palestine from the yoke of Zionist Israelis.

No doubt this speech will cause great embarrassment to Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the PLO, for contradicting the *real* PLO position accepting a two-state solution. Zazeh will probably be reprimanded, and sacked, for lying about the official Palestinian Arab position. How can any government tolerate a diplomat going rogue like that?

Unless, of course, this is the real position of the PLO and the other stuff is carefully calibrated to fool the West. But that couldn't possibly be true, right?

We'll know soon enough, if Zazeh is fired.

Anyone taking bets?