Abbas to Shin Bet Chief: If You Deduct Terrorists’ Salaries We’ll Cut Security Coordination
“The moment Israel cuts the salaries of the terrorists, we will cancel the security coordination,” Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman, Kan, Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation, reported on Monday.
According to the report, the two met last week in Abbas’s home, a day or two before a Grad rocket from Gaza hit a home in Beersheba.
The talks dealt with the need for calm, but also the PLO conference next week, which is expected to yield resolutions against Hamas, Israel and the US.
Argaman reportedly sought to soften Abbas’s position and make sure he did not go too far with anti-Israel actions, including the cancellation of the Paris Economic Agreement, the security coordination and the recognition of Israel.
“The Palestinians claim that ‘we are 25 years after Oslo, on what base do the IDF forces enter the Palestinian cities in Area A?,” Argaman explained, suggesting the other side is complaining, “Whom do you coordinate with when you enter Area A and Area B? You enter whenever you want and do not ask permission.”
Last month, Abbas said in a meeting with Peace Now officials that he met regularly with the Shin Bet chief, and that they agree on 99% of the issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Paying to slay Jews is “social welfare” (says Palestinian UN rep)
Khaled Abu Toameh: Palestinian 'Support' for Saudi Arabia
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas did not wait for Saudi Arabia to admit that Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in its consulate in Turkey. Days before the Saudi announcement, Abbas decided that he and the Palestinians have "absolute confidence" in King Salman bin Abdel Aziz and this son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
As Abbas was busy praising the Saudis for their "justice, values and principles," the London-based Action Group for Palestinians of Syria issued a statement in which it accused the Saudi authorities of preventing Palestinian refugees from entering the kingdom.
"Palestinian refugees fleeing war-ravaged Syria have been denied access into Saudi territories," the group said. It pointed out that the Saudi ban excluded Palestinians heading to the kingdom to perform the Islamic hajj, or pilgrimage. The group also pointed out that Palestinians who fled Syria to Saudi Arabia "have been shorn of their right to visas, education, and health care, among other vital services." Saudi Arabia, the group added, "continues to opt for a closed-door immigration policy regarding Palestinian refugees seeking asylum in its territories."
This is only one example of Saudi discrimination against the Palestinians. The group's announcement was published on the same day that Abbas was heaping praise on the Saudi leaders.
In a statement issued by his office on October 14, Abbas, who described himself as the "President of the State of Palestine," said he "appreciated the positions of Saudi Arabia, a country that has always stood, and continued to do so, on the side of our just cause and the rights of our people." The statement quoted Abbas as expressing "absolute confidence" in the Saudi monarch and his son and said that "Palestine has always stood next to Saudi Arabia, and will continue to do so."
This announcement of blind support for the Saudi king and crown prince came as the international community was still demanding answers from the Saudi government concerning the disappearance of Khashoggi.
Al-Aqsa Mosque Address by Sheikh Abu Mus'ab Al-Hadra: Bin Salman Stupid; Saudis Cannot Even Carry Out an Assassination Professionally pic.twitter.com/gCjVJFqNTp
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) October 23, 2018
PMW: PA: North Korea and Palestinians are victims of US
According to the Palestinian Authority, both the Palestinian people and North Korea are victims of the United States. PA Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad Al-Malki brought a letter of greetings for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un from PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, when he held high level meetings recently with North Korean leaders. Al-Malki said the letter expressed:
"A message of solidarity with the North Korean people in similar circumstances, in which international pressure is being applied to our two peoples by the US."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sept. 9, 2018]
The Korean leader added in turn that the connection between North Korean leaders and the PA leaders is "a connection between comrades in arms":
"[Kim Yong Dae] emphasized that the connection between the two states is a historical connection, which the eternal presidents [of North Korea] Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il established with Martyr [PA] President Yasser Arafat and with His Honor [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas. He added that on this firm basis the connection has developed uninterrupted over the years, as this is a connection between comrades in arms, who have shared experience over the years."
The PA reaffirmed its historical friendship a few weeks ago with the human rights violating North Korean leader, when Abbas again initiated contact with Kim Jong-un and congratulated him on the anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Workers' Party: