(Ynet).Some 2,000 delegates gather in Bethlehem for festive political conference 'in the name of our capital Jerusalem,' on backdrop of battle over Palestinian national movement's future. 'Although we have chosen peace, we maintain the right to launch an armed resistance,' Palestinian president says
Former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia on Tuesday morning launched the historic Fatah congress in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, which is slated to elect the future leadership of the Palestinian movement.
"In the name of the shahidim (martyrs) and in the name of Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian state, we hereby declare the opening of the sixth congress of our movement, the Fatah movement," Qureia said, standing next to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Palestinian president went on to slam Israel, "which is denying all of its commitments." According to Abbas, the understandings reached by the sides with an American guarantee included all of east Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and parts of the Dead Sea located within the West Bank.
"But now the Israelis are trying to deny this and create a reality in Jerusalem, claiming that Jerusalem is united under their sovereignty," he said. "Although we have chosen peace, we maintain the right to launch an armed resistance, which is legitimate as far as international law is concerned."
Abbas surveyed the history of the conflict, accusing the Jewish state of thwarting the Oslo Accords, and hinting to a plot which led to the start of the first Lebanon War, following the assassination of Israeli Ambassador to Britain Shlomo Argov.
"An Israeli spokesman clarified two days before the Lebanon invasion in 1982 that if an Israeli would be hurt, even in London, they would not be committed to a truce and to understandings with the PLO," he said.
He promised not to rest before the circumstances which led to the death of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, are revealed.
Former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia on Tuesday morning launched the historic Fatah congress in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, which is slated to elect the future leadership of the Palestinian movement.
"In the name of the shahidim (martyrs) and in the name of Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian state, we hereby declare the opening of the sixth congress of our movement, the Fatah movement," Qureia said, standing next to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Palestinian president went on to slam Israel, "which is denying all of its commitments." According to Abbas, the understandings reached by the sides with an American guarantee included all of east Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and parts of the Dead Sea located within the West Bank.
"But now the Israelis are trying to deny this and create a reality in Jerusalem, claiming that Jerusalem is united under their sovereignty," he said. "Although we have chosen peace, we maintain the right to launch an armed resistance, which is legitimate as far as international law is concerned."
Abbas surveyed the history of the conflict, accusing the Jewish state of thwarting the Oslo Accords, and hinting to a plot which led to the start of the first Lebanon War, following the assassination of Israeli Ambassador to Britain Shlomo Argov.
"An Israeli spokesman clarified two days before the Lebanon invasion in 1982 that if an Israeli would be hurt, even in London, they would not be committed to a truce and to understandings with the PLO," he said.
He promised not to rest before the circumstances which led to the death of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, are revealed.