Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a stridently anti-Israel speech at the UN, accusing Israel of genocide, calling for its expulsion, and praising Hamas-led protests in the US. Abbas's comments drew condemnation from Israel and critics who questioned his commitment to peace.
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, took to the podium at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, delivering a speech filled with anti-Israel rhetoric and misinformation. Abbas accused Israel of committing genocide, called for its expulsion from the UN, and praised Hamas-led protests in the US.
Abbas's speech was met with condemnation from Israel and critics who questioned his commitment to peace. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon charged that Abbas did not mention Hamas once in his speech, despite the terrorist group's responsibility for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.
Mahmoud Abbas's UN Speech: A Tirade of Anti-Israel Rhetoric and Misinformation
Abbas's history of anti-Israel and anti-American statements has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. In a recent speech to the Turkish parliament, Abbas declared that "America is the plague." He has also been accused of inciting antisemitism and of rewarding Palestinian terrorism through a "pay for slay" system that supports financial stipends for convicted terrorists.
Despite his long-standing record of hostility towards Israel and the US, Abbas and the PA are often considered to be relatively moderate compared to the US-designated terrorist movement Hamas. However, Abbas's continued refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist and his unwillingness to combat terrorism cast doubt on his commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Mahmoud Abbas's UN Speech: A Tirade of Anti-Israel Rhetoric and Misinformation
Abbas's speech also highlighted the ongoing divisions within the Palestinian leadership. While Abbas has dominated Palestinian politics in the West Bank, his rule has done little to advance the Palestinian cause. Critics accuse him of maintaining a Palestinian stasis while enriching himself and his associates.
As Abbas nears the end of his presidency, there is no clear successor in sight. His legacy will likely be one of wasted opportunities and of self-inflicted victimology.
Mahmoud Abbas's UN Speech: A Tirade of Anti-Israel Rhetoric and Misinformation
In a further blow to Abbas's credibility, Fox News Digital reported shortly after Hamas slaughtered nearly 1,200 people in Israel, including over 30 Americans, that the PA might compensate convicted Hamas terrorists for their role in the attack.
According to Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, Abbas and the PA "duplicate all of the corruption, nepotism, and inefficiency of the Palestine Liberation Organization" created by the late Yasser Arafat. Michael contends that Abbas has failed to educate the young generation for peace and has instead indoctrinated them towards hatred and delegitimization of Israel.
Mahmoud Abbas's UN Speech: A Tirade of Anti-Israel Rhetoric and Misinformation
In contrast to Hamas, which is a US-designated terrorist organization, Abbas and the PA are considered to be relatively moderate by some Mideast observers. However, Abbas's continued refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist and his support for terrorism make his commitment to peace questionable.
In 2022, Abbas sparked outrage by comparing Israel's treatment of Palestinians to the Holocaust, claiming that Israel has carried out "50 Holocausts." He has also been accused of refusing to aid in a professional inquiry into the Palestinian Black September massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer during the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Mahmoud Abbas's UN Speech: A Tirade of Anti-Israel Rhetoric and Misinformation
Abbas's UN speech was a reminder of the deep-seated anti-Israel sentiment that continues to prevail within the Palestinian leadership. His inflammatory rhetoric and his refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist are major obstacles to peace.
