Breaking Story- Abbas Endorses Hezbullah “We Definitely Perceive The Resistance In Lebanon As Noble Arab Resistance”

EXCERPTS OF REMARKS BY MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, (AL ARABIYA TV, 17:45 (GMT+3) August 06, 2006)

The following was translated from Arabic.

ANCHOR: The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has noted that members of the Palestinian government are either being arrested or pursued by the Israelis. His declarations came in a press conference that was held in Sana’a, as he was carrying out an official visit.

MAHMOUD ABBAS: The Palestinian government members unfortunately are either being arrested or pursued. Most of them who are in the West Bank were arrested, and some of them in Gaza are wanted or were captured, and the Israeli air forces are pursuing them from one place to another.

ANCHOR: President Abbas has mentioned that the Palestinian issue is the source of all the other issues in the Middle East and the world. He called for a return to negotiations.

MR. ABBAS: The Palestinian issue is the source of all the other issues, not only in the region but in the world. And I believe that every wise and rational person believes that it is important to return to the negotiating table. But this is not for going back to what is called the negotiations process.

The ‘process’ takes years and will not lead to any results. What is required is that the world gets into the essence of the topic and deal with it from it roots.

I hope that this lesson has reached their hearts and minds.

ANCHOR: The Palestinian President believes that anyone who defies the occupation will get the same thing that the Palestinian people are fighting for. Abu Mazen described the resistance in Lebanon as ‘noble Arab resistance’.

MR. ABBAS: The Arab people’s resistance leads to the same issue. This means that anyone who defies the occupation is going to the same target and will get the same result. Therefore, we definitely perceive the resistance in Lebanon as noble Arab resistance. There is no doubt about that.

It is fighting forcefully and it gave a good example of resistance. However, in the end, other processes might appear in different directions. For instance, there is an agenda in Lebanon. If this agenda is authorized, it will deal with the Lebanese process. There isn’t any corresponding Palestinian agenda, therefore this might take place after some time.