Netanyahu must respond to Abbas

(Last update: July 6, 2017)


Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas seems to make a living thinking of ways to attack Israel all across the international stage. Whether it's at some diplomatic conference or the UN or a trip abroad, Abbas can be counted on to take a verbal shot at Israel. 

This is why Abbas is no peace 'partner' with Israel. He never talks about Israel-my-peace-partner. He always talks about Israel-the-criminal.

He always draws from the same bag of dirty tricks: Israel 'occupation' has to end; 'Palestinians' were in the land long before Jews came; all we want is our freedom; Israel denies our rights, independence and freedom; Jerusalem is ours; the Temple Mount is ours --etc. These may not be his exact words at every whistle-stop he makes, but the tune is always the same. He will not stop until Israel has been isolated, rejected, criminalized and then drawn and quartered. 

On the subject of Jew-hate, Abbas is eloquent. He expends energy and resources to get Israel rejected all around the world--from FIFA, the international soccer association, from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, from the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hevron, from Rachel's Burial place, from Joseph's Tomb, from Jerusalem, from achieving economic cooperation with the European Union, etc. 

Basically, Abbas is an uncomplicated man. He has an uncomplicated message: if Israel wants to be part of your organization, you must lock it out. Israel is unworthy because of its Jewish brutality. 

His latest attempt to isolate and exclude Israel came at a conference for an organization called, the African Union  (AU), which has 54 members, each of which is on the African continent. The goal of this Union is to create an "integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in [the] global arena" ("All in a nutshell", au.int, no date, retrieved July 4, 2017). Abbas recently spoke at the 29th AU Summit, June 27-July 4, 2017.

That's where Abbas took his most recent potshot at Israel. It was a well-placed shot because Israel has been making lots of friends on the African continent lately. Apparently, for Abbas, too many friends. He wants that to stop.He wants the AU to lock out Israel for good.           

Israel is interested in the African Union. It's no stranger to African countries ("Africa: AU Summit 29--new partners court the African Union", allafrica, June 29, 2017). In turn, African countries are interested in Israel because of its expertise in agriculture  and something called, "knowledge transfer" (ibid). Perhaps most important, African heads of state are particularly interested in Israel because of the Jewish state's expertise in "personal security" (ibid). 

For its part, Israel considers itself to be a 'neighbor' to Africa. It has recently applied for 'observer status' with the AU (ibid). 

Abbas objects. He doesn't want the AU to have anything to  do with Israel. At the Summit, Abbas said, "The attempts  of the Israeli occupying state to participate in a regional conference with African countries encourage it to continue the occupation of Palestine and to deny the right of our people to freedom and independence" ("Abbas to African countries: Don't rush Israel ties”, arutzsheva, July 3, 2017). 

Whenever Abbas hits Israel with accusations of 'occupation', 'brutality', apartheid'--or any of the other slurs he uses--Netanyahu should not remain silent.  Every time Abbas tries to light up an audience against Israel, Netanyahu should hit back. He should tell the world the truth about the Palestinian Authority. 

For example, he should declare that "a nation that supports the Palestinian Authority encourages those who hate Jews to continue their calls for genocide against the Jewish people. Those who support Mahmoud Abbas support the destruction of the State of Israel".

Netanyahu could say more. He could speak to Abbas' incitement against Jews. He could speak of Abbas' commitment to pay people to murder Jews. He could ridicule the map of 'Palestine' which is, after all, the map of Israel with Israel itself replaced by 'Palestine'--a hostile act if ever there was one. 

But then, all that gets too lengthy. People will lose interest. Since brevity is the soul of wit, Netanyhahu should keep his response short. 

But he must respond--every time. Otherwise, the world will think Abbas is right. 

Abbas is a leader. He attacks Israel as part of his leadership.
  
Netanyahu is also a leader. When  Abbas attacks, he should attack, too. He should never let Abbas out-lead him. 

Netanyahu must respond to Abbas.
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