Very telling words considering they come from Fatah Chairman Abbas, no small terrorist himself. This from Hisham Abu Taha & Mohammed Mar”i for Arab News:
RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY, 21 June 2007 “” President Mahmoud Abbas lashed out at Hamas yesterday, accusing them of trying to build an “empire of darkness” in Gaza and pledging he would not talk to “murderous terrorists.”
If only the U.S. and Israel would pledge not to talk to them either.
Addressing the Palestinian people for the first time since the Hamas takeover of Gaza, Abbas in a televised speech to the Palestine National Council, sought approval for his recent steps, such as declaring a state of emergency, firing the Hamas-led government and setting up an emergency Cabinet of moderates.
Abbas, a terrorist himself, won’t talk to Hamas and is not exactly mincing words when speaking of them, yet Europe is eerily quiet. Will the Eurodollars flow?
At one point, Abbas also described in great detail what he said was a Hamas attempt to assassinate him. He said he obtained footage of Hamas members dragging large amounts of explosives through a tunnel they had dug under Gaza’s main road “” the one he takes to get to his office “” and saying “this is for Abu Mazen,” Abbas” nickname. He said he sent the tape to Hamas” supreme leader, Khaled Meshaal, and to Arab leaders to illustrate Hamas intentions.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri hotly rejected Abbas” statements. “What he said was disgusting and not appropriate for the Palestinian president,” the Hamas official said. “The president has harmed himself with his words.”
Maybe Abu Zuhri “rejected” Abbas” statements, but he sure didn’t deny them.
The question that remains is not if there will be Hamas vs. Fatah Round Two, but when.
Crossposted from The American Israeli Patriot.