[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Once again, Palestinian officials condemn the
murder of Israeli on practical grounds: it doesn't serve Palestinian
interests.

Do they say it is immoral to murder civilians? No. Only that it doesn't
serve the national interests.

Is the "renunciation of violence in all its forms" a blanket renunciation?
Again, it is presented not as a matter of principle but as a matter of
tactics.

The flip side?

Should the day come that PM Fayyad believes that murdering Israeli civilians
serves Palestinian interests then - let the blood bath begin.]

National Authority condemns the shooting in the Hebron area and considers it
incompatible with Palestinian interests

Date: 31/08/2010 Time: 22:16
www1.wafa.ps/arabic/index.php?action=detail&id=84523
[Google translation]
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Ramallah 31/08/2010 [WAFA - PLO news agency] - Prime Minister Dr. Salam
Fayyad said that what took place Tuesday evening, in the Hebron area at a
time that efforts are be made by the Palestine Liberation Organization to
mobilize international support for the Palestinian position regarding the
demands of a successful political process to end the occupation, and achieve
freedom and independence of our people, contradicts the Palestinian
national interests and strategic vision adopted by the National Authority,
which combines the political struggle led by the Palestine Liberation
Organization at the regional and international levels, on the one hand, and
the completion of building the institutions of the State of Palestine and
infrastructure, and strengthens the popular resistance peaceful occupation,
on the other hand, to achieve the goal of ending the occupation and the
establishment of independent State of Palestine with its capital in East
Jerusalem on the 1967 borders.

This came in an exclusive statement made by the Prime Minister, this
evening, commenting on the incident, he said: 'We condemn this incident,
that is contrary to Palestinian interests, and the efforts of the
Palestinian leadership to mobilize international support for the rights of
our people and protecting their interests, as well as the commitments we
assumed '.

The Prime Minister called all citizens to be vigilant and to renounce
violence, to protect the path of peaceful popular resistance against the
settlements and practices of the occupation.

He pointed out that, despite that the incident took place in areas that fall
outside the responsibility of the Palestinian security, the Authority will
continue to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such
events, while stressing the need for Israel's response to the demands of the
Palestinian National Authority to enable them to take over security in all
areas.

He warned of the risk of being sucked into a spiral of violence, which
experience has confirmed to be detrimental to national interests, he added
'our people are well aware that it serves the objectives and the supreme
national interests of ending the occupation and suffering to renunciate
violence in all its forms' .

In conclusion, the Prime Minister said: 'This is the way of salvation, and
not continue to exploit the suffering of the Palestinian people in the
service of class and regional agendas contrary to the interests of our
people, and under empty slogans'.