Fatah Has Never & Will Never Recognize Israel

Khaled Abu Toameh:

Fatah has never recognized Israel’s right to exist and will never do so, according to Azzam al-Ahmed, a member of the Fatah Central Committee who is closely associated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Ahmed, who is also head of the Fatah negotiating team with Hamas, said PA security forces in the West Bank were arresting Hamas supporters to protect them from being targeted by the IDF.

sked whether Fatah had spoken with Hamas about recognizing Israel, the senior Fatah official said, “Fatah has not recognized Israel. I challenge anyone who says that the case is otherwise, whether it’s Hamas or others. Neither Fatah nor Hamas is required to recognize Israel. Only governments and states extend recognition. It was the Palestinian government that recognized Israel, just as the Israeli government recognized us.”

Ahmed said the PLO had recognized Israel with the signing of the Oslo Accords.

“An organization recognized a state and a state recognized an organization,” he said.

“Now states should recognize each other when a Palestinian state is declared next September.”

In response to allegations that PA security forces have been cracking down on Hamas supporters in the West Bank, Ahmed said, “We in Fatah arrest Hamas members to protect them from Israel or from family disputes.” via challahhuakbar.blogspot.com and image via Jerusalem Arabs Agaist PA Rule @indynewsisrael.com