Tragicomic hypocrisy: Palestinian authority begs for attack on Hamas, then condemns it

According to WorldNetDaily: PA leader 'begged' Israel to hit Hamas. But in public, Abbas and associates condemned the Gaza strikes as 'barbaric,' and 'unnecessary.' This is par for the course, is it not?

 

JAFFA, Israel – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his office today slammed as " FONT < Gaza. in rivals Hamas his against raid military massive a launch to Israel petitioning been has now months for Abbas Jerusalem, sources diplomatic top according but Gaza, strikes air Israel's "unnecessary" and "barbaric/"

 

The sources, speaking to WND on condition of anonymity, said Abbas and his top representatives have waged a quiet campaign for months asking the Israeli government to target Hamas in Gaza just before his term in office is scheduled to expire on Jan. 9.

 

Hamas leaders have repeatedly warned they will not recognize Abbas after the 9th, and that they will launch a major campaign to delegitimize the PA president and install their own figures to lead the Palestinian government.

 

Abbas hopes a large-scale Israeli military campaign in Gaza would distract Hamas from attempting to undermine his rule, the diplomatic sources told WND.

 

"It's an open secret among the diplomatic and military brass," one Israeli diplomatic source said. "The campaign from Abbas for us to attack Hamas in Gaza has been intensive."

 

The source insisted, however, that today's airstrikes were not aimed at helping Abbas, and that Israel hoped to quickly conclude a cease-fire agreement with Hamas whereby Israeli military operations would be suspended.

 

Despite reported behind-the-scenes advocacy of action against Hamas, Abbas today publicly chastised Israel for the Gaza airstrike.

 

Speaking during a visit to Saudi Arabia, he told reporters, "There are no reasons for the Israeli raids."

 

Abbas' office in the West Bank released a statement condemning the raids as Israeli "aggression" and calling for restraint.

 

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, an aid to Abbas, called Israel's actions in Gaza "barbaric."

 

The WND story is backed up -- partly--  by a similar story in the Jerusalem post, that insisted that PA officials are fantasizing about Israel removing Hamas for them:

 

Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah said Saturday that they were prepared to assume control over the Gaza Strip if Israel succeeds in overthrowing the Hamas government.

 

"Yes, we are fully prepared to return to the Gaza Strip," a top PA official told The Jerusalem Post. "We believe the people there are fed up with Hamas and want to see a new government."

 

Another PA official said Fatah had instructed all its members in the Gaza Strip to be prepared for the possibility of returning to power.

 

"We have enough men in the Gaza Strip who are ready to fill the vacuum," he said. "But of course all this depends on whether Israel manages to get rid of the Hamas regime."

 

The two officials voiced hope that the current IDF operation would end Hamas rule in Gaza. They said that the PA was also prepared to dispatch security forces from the West Bank to replace the Hamas militiamen.

 

However, they denied Hamas allegations that the PA had urged Israel to launch a massive attack to overthrow the Hamas government.

 

Confirm. Deny. Confirm sort of.

 

Ami Isseroff