Fatah to Hamas: Don't recognize Israel; Fatah never will
PMW Bulletin Sept. 18, 2017
Fatah spokesman to Hamas: Don't recognize Israel; Fatah doesn't and never will
"The armed resistance, popular resistance, and everything is also legitimate"
Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Click to read on our website
Fatah and llamas announced yesterday that they are moving ahead towards Palestinian reconciliation and possible national elections. While the international community is waiting to see the final terms of a Palestinian unity agreement, the fundamental messages of non-recognition of Israel and support for the use of terror against Israel are principles that Fatah and Hamas already agree upon.
Speaking last month on Fatah-run Awdah TV, Fatah spokesman Osama Al-Qawasmi forcefully told Hamas that it should not recognize Israel, since Fatah itself does not recognize and will never recognize Israel.
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The image is not a chart. It is a white background with a small image of a green and white flag in the top left corner. The text surrounding the figure states: "Fatah-run Awdah TV host: 'Has the Fatah Movement recognized Israel in its political platform until now?'"
Fatah-run Awdah TV host: "Has the Fatah Movement recognized Israel in its political platform until now?
Fatah Spokesman Osama Al-Qawasmi: "Certainly not. This is not required, and we will not recognize Israel... I declare this clearly and in a satellite channel broadcast: 'My friends, Hamas, you should not recognize Israel, you are not required to. The PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, sent a letter of mutual recognition of the State of Israel, on Sept. 12, 1993. You are not required to.'"
[Fatah-run Awdah TV, Aug. 23, 2017]
It should be noted, that Mahmoud Abbas the chairman of the Palestinian Authority is also the chairman of Fatah and the PLO. The Palestinian leadership employs double messages depending on who it is speaking to. Palestinian Media Watch has documented that Fatah regularly reminds Palestinians that it does not recognize Israel's existence or right to exist. Fatah and the PA regularly teach Palestinian children to see all Israeli cities such as Jaffa and Haifa as "occupied" Palestinian cities that will eventually be under Palestinian sovereignty. When speaking to the international community, however, Abbas focuses not on Fatah's non-recognition of Israel but on the PLO's one letter of recognition of Israel, written in 1993. (See below.)
The second area of significant agreement is that Fatah like Hamas stresses that it will continue to use violence and terror at any given time that it deems the violence advantageous:
Al-Qawasmi: "At the Seventh [Fatah] Conference, under threat of the occupation's weapons, we did not change [our policy]. We said that the armed resistance, popular resistance, and everything is also legitimate, but we chose popular resistance as the means that we see as the most effective under the present circumstances."
For years, Mahmoud Abbas has been seeking a unity agreement with Hamas. Already in 2009, Palestinian Media Watch documented that Abbas turned to Hamas on PA TV and demanded that they join in a unity government because according to Abbas, Hamas and Fatah agree on all important issues:
Abbas: "There is no disagreement between us [Fatah and Hamas]: About belief? None! About policy? None! About resistance? None! So what do you [Hamas] disagree about? Why are you not signing the [reconciliation] agreement?"
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[Official Palestinian Authority TV Dec. 31, 2009]
The following is the interview of the Fatah Spokesman
Fatah Spokesman: Fatah will never recognize Israel
Fatah-run Awdah TV host: Has the Fatah Movement recognized Israel in its political platform until now?
Fatah Spokesman Osama Al-Qawasmi: Certainly not. This is not required, and we will not recognize
The image is not a chart. The key information from the text is:
- Fatah Spokesman Osama Al-Qawasmi stated that recognizing Israel is not required.
- He addressed Hamas, advising them they are not required to recognize Israel.
- He referenced the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
- The PLO sent a letter of mutual recognition to the State of Israel on September 12, 1993.
Israel... I declare this clearly and in a satellite channel broadcast: 'My friends, Hamas, you should not recognize Israel, you are not required to. The PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, sent a letter of mutual recognition of the State of Israel, on Sept. 12, 1993. You are not required to.'
We in the Fatah Movement have not changed our position.
At the Seventh [Fatah] Conference, under threat of the occupation's weapons, we did not change [our policy].
We said that the armed resistance, popular resistance, and everything is also legitimate, but we chose popular resistance as the means that we see as the most effective under the present circumstances."
[Fatah-run Awdah TV, Aug. 23, 2017]
PLO's letter of recognition ofIsrael, 1993:
September 9, 1993
Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Prime Minister, The signing of the Declaration of Principles marks a new era in the history of the Middle East. In firm conviction thereof, I would like to confirm the following PLO commitments: The PLO recognizes the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security. The PLO accepts United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. The PLO commits itself to the Middle East peace process, and to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two sides and declares that all outstanding issues relating to permanent status will be resolved through negotiations. The PLO considers that the signing of the Declaration of Principles constitutes a historic event, inaugurating a new epoch of peaceful coexistence, free from violence and all other acts which endanger peace and stability. Accordingly, the PLO renounces the use of terrorism and other acts of violence and will assume responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent violations and discipline violators. In view of the promise of a new era and the signing of the Declaration of Principles and based on Palestinian acceptance of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the PLO affirms that those articles of the Palestinian Covenant which deny Israel's right to exist, and the provisions of the Covenant which are inconsistent with the commitments of this letter are now inoperative and no longer valid. Consequently, the PLO undertakes to submit to the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant. Sincerely,
Yasser Arafat Chairman
The Palestine Liberation Organization
[Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, accessed Sept. 18, 2017]
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