I’m going to score this one a win, even if I have some quibbles with it. The AP really seems to be working towards being an objective media source. At least, sometimes. (Thanks, Soccerdad!) They fact-checked Abbas’ ass, and he came out looking like a big fat liar. For instance:
OCCUPATION: Abbas called Israel’s control of the territories claimed by the Palestinians “the only occupation in the world.”
THE FACTS: The world is full of ethnic minorities that might claim to be ruled by occupiers, ranging from Tibetans living under Chinese rule to Kurds in Turkey, Basques in Spain, Chechens in Russia and Muslim separatists in Indian-ruled Kashmir.
Yeah, the poor, poor pitiful Pals. They’re the ONLY ones in the world suffering under an occupation. Except for all the others.
And this:
JEWISH CONNECTION TO THE HOLY LAND: Abbas called for two states, Israel and Palestine, to live in peace together.
THE FACTS: Abbas did not address one of Israel’s central demands, that he recognize the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. And he ignored this Jewish connection by referring to the area as the land of Muhammad and Jesus, with no mention of any Jewish biblical figure.
That’s an excellent point, AP.
As to the quibble, well, here’s how the article ends:
SETTLEMENTS: Abbas repeatedly condemned Israeli settlement activity as the chief obstacle to peace, saying that continued Israeli construction on lands claimed by the Palestinians shows that Israel is not serious about peace.
THE FACTS: Israel might argue — as Netanyahu did in his rebuttal Friday — that Arab enmity to Israel long preceded the settlement of lands occupied in 1967. But Abbas, ironically, could have been even stronger in his condemnation and mentioned a jarring statistic: The number of Jews living in the West Bank and east Jerusalem has roughly doubled, to some 500,000 people, since the Oslo Accords of 18 years ago.
The AP might also point out, as it did above, that the Palestinians have turned down—multiple times—a peace deal that gives them almost everything they want. In fact, they even turned down Jerusalem. Because peace is not what the Palestinians want. At least, not until they’ve driven every Jew out of Israel.
Following are excerpts from an interview with Abbas Zaki, member of the Fatah Central Committee, which aired on the Al-Jazeera network on September 23, 2011.
Abbas Zaki: The settlement should be based upon the borders of June 4, 1967. When we say that the settlement should be based upon these borders, President [Abbas] understands, we understand, and everybody knows that the greater goal cannot be accomplished in one go.
If Israel withdraws from Jerusalem, evacuates the 650,000 settlers, and dismantles the wall – what will become of Israel? It will come to an end.
They think nobody’s watching. That’s when they come out with the truth.