Conference calls Abbas on 'rifles' statement
www.jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=6488&ref=daily_briefing

The umbrella body for U.S. Jewish groups expressed "deep concern" at the
call by Mahmoud Abbas for Palestinians to "raise rifles" against Israel.

"Let a thousand flowers bloom and let our rifles, all our rifles, all our
rifles, be aimed at the occupation," the Palestinian Authority president
said at a Jan. 11 rally in the context of urging Palestinians to end
internecine warfare.

In a statement Wednesday, the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish
Organizations noted the context but added, "This call for terror against
Israelis casts doubt on the sincerity of" earlier statements committing
Abbas to an end to violence.

"His extreme rhetoric also undermines the diplomatic efforts the U.S.
administration are undertaking to try to make progress in the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict."

The Zionist Organization of America has led the calls demanding an
explanation from Abbas.

Last week, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) wrote to U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, who met with Abbas not long after the rally, asking her to
confront him about the statement.