Ashrawi slams Lieberman remarks about PA president

A senior member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, has criticised remarks made by the Israeli foreign minister about President Mahmoud Abbas. Avigdor Lieberman’s comments, said the veteran Ashrawi, “Reflect the occupational mentality that constitute the arrogance and racism of the Israeli Government, which threatens the safety and security of the whole region.”

Lieberman called for Abbas to be “replaced” in a letter to representatives of the major international powers on Monday, blaming him for the stalemate in the peace process.

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Ashrawi told Quds Press that the only obstacles to the peace process are Israeli policies represented by the continuous settlement construction and destruction of Palestinian houses. She said that Lieberman’s remarks are underpinned by “decades of a ‘no-questions asked’ attitude by the international community towards the Israeli occupation”.

The reality of Israeli policy towards the Palestinian Authority has been exposed by Lieberman’s remarks, claimed Dr. Ashrawi. “The Palestinian leadership is studying the letter which he sent to the US Secretary of State, Russia’s Foreign Minister, the EU and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,” she confirmed.