In accusing Israel of committing genocide and war crimes, Abbas proved he is no ‘partner for peace’
In his address to the U.N. Friday, Mahmoud Abbas spewed vitriolic venom at Israel. He described Israel’s war against Hamas as a “genocidal crime.” He promised that, "We will not forget and we will not forgive, and we will not allow war criminals to escape punishment."
Abbas said "Israel has chosen to make it a year of a new war of genocide perpetrated against the Palestinian people." He called the deaths of 460 Palestinian children in Gaza "a series of absolute war crimes carried out before the eyes and ears of the entire world."
As for the peace negotiations, Abbas said Israel is offering Palestinians a future either in "isolated ghettos" or "at worst it will be a most abhorrent form of apartheid."
Abbas called for immediate Palestinian statehood, saying, "There is an occupation that must end now. There is a people that must be freed immediately. The hour of independence of the state of Palestine has arrived."
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman accused Abbas of waging "diplomatic terrorism" and making "false accusations." And even the Obama administration was angered by the speech. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, "President Abbas' speech today included offensive characterizations that were deeply disappointing and which we reject. Such provocative statements are counterproductive and undermine efforts to create a positive atmosphere and restore trust between the parties."
By his venomous words, Abbas proved that he is not, and has never been a partner for peace. And those words should make it clear to President Obama why many Israelis are “ready to abandon the hard work of peace."
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