« Three shot dead in Aceh: reports | Main | Iraq National Guards arrest 228 suspected rebels »
January 3, 2005
Abbas vows never to take up arms against militants
Topics: Middle East News and PerspectivesPalestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said in a campaign speech on Monday that he would never take up arms against militant groups and referred to the terrorists as "freedom fighters." Sounds to me like he is still blowing Arafat's trumpet.
Haaretz (Israel) Jan 3:
(...) The remarks were the latest in a series of stump speeches in which Abbas, who in the past has criticized the use of bombs and rifles against Israelis, hailed militants as heroes of the uprising.
(...) Israel has demanded that Abbas, if elected, curb and disarm militants. Reining in armed groups is also a key element of the U.S.-backed road map.
(...) Abbas, front-runner in the race, said Monday he was determined to ensure the rule of law prevailed in the Palestinian territories, a message to militant groups that attack Israeli targets. But he said he would achieve that goal through "dialogue and discussion" as he pursued national unity.
(...) "Palestinians taking up arms against each other will not happen," Abbas pledged.
(...) "They are freedom fighters... and should live a dignified and safe life," said Abbas, whose call for an end to violence in a 4-year-old Palestinian uprising has been rejected by militants whose support he is courting in the January 9 election.
Continue reading...
It sounds to me like the Palestinian Authority and Abbas hasn't learned much from Arafat's years of failing the Palestinian people. Terrorists are not freedom fighters and people that kill innocent human beings are terrorists, ergo there can be no freedom fighters amongst the Palestinians. Freedom fighters would be seeking true freedom for their people and there can be no real freedom through terrorist violence.
Posted by Hyscience at January 3, 2005 9:48 AM
Articles Related to Middle East News and Perspectives:
- Abbas vows never to take up arms against militants - Jan 03, 2005
