¨Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has affirmed this principle while also calling Israel's creation a crime.

¨Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas does not oppose armed struggle.

¨Palestinians continue to obstruct the normalization of relations between Arab/Islamic nations and Israel.

¨Hamas remains committed to Israel’s destruction.

“Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said Wednesday that a Palestinian state will be established on all of the land of Palestine and not only on parts of it, and that it will include “Jaffa, Lod and Haifa.” Zahar also reiterated Hamas’ unwillingness to recognize the State of Israel and said that the group “will continue to persecute the Zionists wherever they are, after we prove that the Zionist army can be defeated - contrary to what was believed in the past, that it is impossible to beat the Zionists.” — Jerusalem Post, May 14, 2008.

“In light of the weakness of the Arab nation and the lack of values, and in light of the American control over the world, the PLO proceeds through phases, without changing its strategy. Let me tell you, when the ideology of Israel collapses, and we take, at least, Jerusalem, the Israeli ideology will collapse in its entirety, and we will begin to progress with our own ideology, Allah willing, and drive them out of all of Palestine.” — PLO ambassador to Lebanon, Abbas Zaki, Jerusalem Post, April 13, 2008.

“The Zionist enemy doesn't have a vision of peace. Only force... fighting and holy war works with [Israel].” — Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya, Jerusalem Post, March 28, 2008.

“At this present juncture, I am opposed to armed struggle because we cannot succeed in it, but maybe in the future things will be different.” — PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Jerusalem Post, February 28, 2008.

“We negated the concept in the Annapolis peace conference and it almost ended because of it… they wanted us to state we recognize Israel as a Jewish State in the closing statements, but we wouldn't hear of it.” — PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Ynet, February 28, 2008.

“More than 200,000 Palestinians rallied yesterday in Gaza City to mark the Hamas movement’s 20th anniversary, where deposed Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said that whoever declares he will never recognize Israel earns ‘the people's love.’ The crowd chanted: ‘We will never recognize Israel.’” — Haaretz, December 16, 2007.

“Hamas on Thursday called on the UN to rescind the 1947 decision to partition Palestine into two states, one for Jews and one for Arabs. The group said in a statement, released on the 60th anniversary of the UN vote, that "Palestine is Arab Islamic land, from the river to the sea, including Jerusalem... there is no room in it for the Jews.” — Jerusalem Post, November 29, 2007.

“No Palestinian is authorized to offer concessions. With Palestinian divisions and the absence of institutions no one has the right to conduct negotiations as they please....I tell my brothers in Ramallah. Your game is dangerous. Don't gamble with your political future. The Palestinian people won't accept negotiating on the core of the Palestinian cause as part of a game destined to fail.” — Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, Reuters, November 5, 2007.

“We have 6,205 square kilometers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip....We want it as it is.” — Haaretz, October 10, 2007.

“Ninety-two [percent] is unacceptable to us.” — Mahmoud Abbas on territorial compromise. Washington Post, September 30, 2007.

“Jerusalem and the Aksa Mosque have experienced occupation by various peoples in the past and lived through this occupation. I tell the Israelis: You and your occupation will disappear, Jerusalem and the Aksa Mosque will remain forever.” — Sheikh Raed Salah, Jerusalem Post, September 8, 2007.

“‘Palestinians will fight Israel for generation upon generation until victory, and will yet get to dance at the Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem,’ Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas prime minister in the dismissed Palestinian Authority government, told a rally in the Gaza Strip on Thursday [Aug. 16]. ‘If Israel is not defeated in this generation, it will be in the next generation,’ he said.” — Canadian Jewish News, August 17, 2007.

“As far as we're concerned, the issue of recognition of Israel has been settled once and for all. It has been settled in our political literature, in our Islamic thought and in our Jihadist culture, on which we base our moves. Recognition of Israel is out of the question.” Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Saudi daily paper Aljazeera, April 2, 2007.

“I will not accept a agreement saying that at the end of the day, Haifa, Jaffa, and Acre are Israeli cities, and part of the Israeli land. It should, at the very least, say that these cities cannot be liberated or regained today, but I will not accept any solution that prevents any future Palestinian generation from acting to liberate and regain the rest of the Palestinian land, if the current generation is incapable of accomplishing this.” — Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan, Al-Manar TV, April 2, 2007.

 “...the extermination of Jews is good for the inhabitants of the worlds...” — Kan'an Ubayd in the Hamas newspaper, Al-Risalah, April 23, 2007.

“The Friday sermon of March 30, 2007, on the occasion of the birthday of Muhammad, was delivered by Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan in the Gaza mosque of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan. The sermon was broadcasted live on the Palestinian national television, controlled by Abu Mazen, the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority....In his sermon, Ismail Radwan included the following verse: ‘The Day of Judgment will not arrive until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them, until the Jew hides behind the stones and the trees; and each stone or tree will say: Oh Muslim, Oh servant of God, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him; except for the gharqad, which is the tree of the Jews.’” — Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, April 11, 2007.

“We will never give up our principles; anyone who thinks that Hamas is tired or weak is mistaken. Hamas has not stopped its military operations.” — Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, Jerusalem Post, March 30, 2007.

“‘We will not betray promises we made to God to continue the path of Jihad and resistance until the liberation of Palestine, all of Palestine,’ Hamas said in a statement, in a clear reference to Israel as well as to the occupied West Bank.” — Reuters, March 12, 2007.

“A political adviser to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said Saturday that the unity government would not recognize Israel. ‘The issue of recognition was not addressed at all [in Mecca],’ Ahmed Youssef said. ‘In the platform of the new government there will be no sign of recognition [of Israel], regardless of the pressures the United States and the Quartet would exert,’ he said.” — Haaretz, February 11, 2007.

“We will never recognize the usurper Zionist government and will continue our jihad-like movement until the liberation of Jerusalem.” — Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, USA Today, December 8, 2006.

“Even the establishment of a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and West Bank will not move Hamas to recognize Israel, as Palestinian lands would still remain "occupied," [Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled] Mashaal told the Lebanese newspaper Al Safir....Elsewhere on Tuesday, Mashaal's words were backed up by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh...[who] emphasized that the Palestinian people would not give up a ‘single grain of the land of Palestine, nor would it relinquish the right of return for Palestinian refugees.’” — Jerusalem Post, December 5, 2006.

“I tell you with all honesty, we will not recognize Israel, we will not recognize Israel, we will not recognize Israel,” Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said. — New York Times , October 7, 2006.

“Muhammad Deif, head of Hamas' military wing and the senior Palestinian terror suspect wanted by Israel, said Sunday night that "all the land conquered in 1948 is Palestine's land. Every Muslim in the world has the right and duty to fight in order to liberate this land because it is Muslim land.” — Ynetnews.com, July 3, 2006.

“I dream of hanging a huge map of the world on the wall at my Gaza home which does not show Israel on it.” Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, Xinhua, April 1, 2006.

“Hamas’s platform, published on a Palestinian website on Saturday, called the conflict with the ‘Zionist enemy’ ongoing, and defined Israel as an ‘occupying power’....The platform went on to declare violent resistance, including terror attacks, legitimate tools for the Palestinian people, and said that Hamas would like to learn ‘more efficient’ ways of achieving Palestinian goals, which include the right to return to ‘every centimeter’ of their land....” — Jerusalem Post, March 11, 2006.

“‘We don't consider the Israeli enemy a partner. By winning the elections, we defeated Israel,’ [Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar] said. ‘Why should we recognize Israel?’” — Guardian Unlimited, February 27, 2006.

“Hamas believes that historical Palestine, that is, all of Palestine, belongs to the Palestinian people....We say that all of Palestine, from the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea, belongs to the Palestinians. They have a legitimate right to this land.” — Interview with Hamas Political Bureau deputy head Musa Abu Marzouq, Dream 2 TV (Sudan), February 13, 2006.

“‘Our mission is to liberate Jerusalem and purify the al-Aqsa Mosque. Islam goes forward because its power comes from Allah and it will continue to advance in spite of its opposers,’ [Hamas political leader Khaled] Mashaal said....” — Ynetnews.com, February 14, 2006.

“‘Hamas will not recognize Israel,’ [Hamas political leader Khaled] Mashaal told reporters....Mashaal also said Hamas would not renounce violence as it is entitled to resist what it regards as Israel's occupation of Palestinian land. He added that Hamas was capable of leading the Palestinians in a long fight that they would be better able to bear than Israel.” — Jerusalem Post, February 8, 2006.

“Mahmoud Zahar reiterated that his [Hamas] movement would not ever recognize Israel's right to exist, nor did he reveal any willingness to negotiate.” — Jerusalem Post, January 28, 2006.

“Palestine means Palestine in its entirety - from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Jordan] River, from Ras Al-Naqura to Rafah. We cannot give up a single inch of it. Therefore, we will not recognize the Israeli enemy's [right] to a single inch.” Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar on Al-Manar TV, January 25, 2006.

“Ismail Haniya, the top candidate on the Hamas list for Palestinian parliamentary elections, said Sunday that Hamas supports only as a temporary solution the establishment of a Palestinian states along the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital. Haniya emphasized that Hamas does not recognize the existence of the State of Israel and maintains its vision of establishing a Palestinian state throughout all of the area west of the Jordan River. He also reiterated that there is no chance that Hamas would voluntarily disarm as long as Israel exists.” — Jerusalem Post, January 22, 2006.

“‘To all those who claim that Hamas has abandoned the resistance option because of its participation in the election, we say that we remain committed to the resistance,’ [Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar] declared. ‘Israel is an enemy, not a partner or a friend or a neighbor. We won't negotiate with them and this is our final position. Palestine, all of Palestine, belongs to the Muslims and the Arabs and no one has the right to give up one inch of its land.’” — Jerusalem Post, January 14, 2006.

“The armed wing of the ruling Fatah party, Aksa Martyrs Brigades, on Sunday became the first Palestinian group to publicly endorse Iran's call to eliminate Israel.” — Jerusalem Post, November 6, 2005.

“First of all this Palestinian land, and all the Arabic nation, is all part of the same area. In the past, there was no independent Palestinian state; there was no independent Jordanian state; and so on. There were regions called Iraq or Egypt, but they were all part of one country....Our main goal is to establish a great Islamic state, be it pan-Arabic or pan-Islamic.” Mahmoud A-Zahhar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, The Media Line, September 22, 2005.

Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar said Hamas would “definitely not” be prepared for coexistence with Israel should the IDF retreat to its 1967 borders. “It can be a temporary solution, for a maximum of 5 to 10 years. But in the end Palestine must return to become Muslim, and in the long term Israel will disappear from the face of the earth.” — Yediot Ahronot, June 24, 2005

¨Abbas and Olmert agreed to a cease fire at the end of November 2006.

¨Abbas and Sharon agreed to declare an end to hostilities during a summit in Egypt.

¨Palestinians continue to threaten violence if their demands aren't met.

¨Even after Israel withdraws completely from Gaza, Palestinians continue to fire rockets into Israel on an almost daily basis.

The following are a sample of the most recent violations:

“14 people were wounded Wednesday evening, including a mother and her three-year-old daughter, when a Grad rocket fired from Gaza hit the Hutzot Shopping Center in Ashkelon.” — Jerusalem Post, May 14, 2008.

“Two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip landed in the Ashkelon Beach region on Tuesday evening.” — Jerusalem Post, May 13, 2008.

“At least 21 Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip struck the western Negev on Saturday, lightly hurting five people.” — Haaretz, May 11, 2008.

“Two Qassam rockets were fired from Gaza Thursday: One landed in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council and the other in an open area in the western Negev. A third rocket landed within Gaza.” — Ynet, May 8, 2008.

“One person was lightly hurt as a barrage of seven Kassam rockets slammed into Sderot and neighboring western Negev towns Monday morning.” — Jerusalem Post, May 5, 2008.

“A Kassam rocked fired from the northern Gaza Strip hit a mini-market in central Sderot Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, the rocket did not break through the roof of the building, though five people at the scene suffered shock. A second rocket slammed into a Sderot home and another hit a cemetery in the western Negev town, damaging a number of gravestones. Throughout Sunday, seven rockets were fired by Palestinian terrorists into Israel.” — Jerusalem Post, May 4, 2008.

“Residents of Sderot and the rest of the Gaza-periphery awoke to yet another day of Kassam rocket fire, with 13 Kassam strikes being reported since early Wednesday morning.” — Jerusalem Post, April 30, 2008.

“Gaza terrorists resumed their attacks on the western Negev just as children were making their way to school. One of four Kassam rockets that struck Sderot hit a home in the town, causing damage and sending three people into shock. Five Kassams also pounded the Sha'ar Hanegev region....A tenth rocket landed near the Erez Crossing. A Sha'ar Hanegev kibbutz clinic was also damaged when two mortar shells hit the area and on Tuesday afternoon, a rocket landed south of Ashkelon.” — Jerusalem Post, April 29, 2008.

“Ten rockets were fired from Gaza at southern Israel since Wednesday night....” — Ynet, April 17, 2008.

“A Kassam rocket landed in an open area near Ashkelon beach Monday afternoon.” — Jerusalem Post, April 14, 2008.

“Three Kassam rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel Sunday.” — Jerusalem Post, April 7, 2008.

“Three Kassam rockets were fired at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip on Friday morning, one of them hitting the outer wall of a preschool in one of the kibbutzim in the Sha'ar Hanegev region moments after the children were taken inside by their teacher. The teacher and a parent of one of the children suffered shock and the building was damaged. Two other Kassam rockets that were fired at the western Negev landed in open areas and caused no wounded or damage.” — Jerusalem Post, March 28, 2008.

“We also reiterate our condemnation and rejection for the firing of missiles being launched from Gaza against Israel.” — Remarks by Palestinian Authority President Abbas, March 23, 2008.

“Three Kassam rockets fired from Gaza landed in open areas in the Sdot Negev region on Friday morning. The terrorists fired the rockets as Purim festivities were underway in the area.” — Jerusalem Post, March 21, 2008.

“Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired seven Kassam rockets into southern Israel on Friday.” — Jerusalem Post, March 14, 2008.

“Approximately 25 Kassam rockets hit the western Negev on Thursday....Three of the rockets landed in Sderot, one hitting a warehouse and sending a woman into shock.” — Jerusalem Post, March 13, 2008.

“A rocket struck Ashkelon on Tuesday afternoon, dispelling reports that a secret cease-fire agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas which would end the rocket fire against Israeli cities in return for a cessation of IDF activities against Palestinian gunmen.” — Jerusalem Post, March 11, 2008.

“On Wednesday afternoon, nine more rockets were fired from northern Gaza. Two hit Palestinian territory, four landed in and around Sderot, two hit a chicken coop in a western Negev kibbutz and another hit the industrial zone south of Ashkelon.” — Jerusalem Post, March 5, 2008.

“Kassam and Katyusha rockets continued to rain down on the western Negev Sunday evening....A woman was lightly wounded in Ashkelon. The mother had been hiding with her two children at the time of the attack. The second home to be hit was in Sderot....Some 35 rockets have struck the region since Sunday morning.” — Jerusalem Post, March 2, 2008.

“A Kassam rocket fired from Gaza hit a house as a family was eating lunch. A woman was lightly wounded and four people were sent into shock as the rocket slammed into a room adjacent to where the family was dining. Three more Kassams fired at the town landed in open areas, causing neither casualties nor damage.” — Jerusalem Post, February 29, 2008.

“Seventeen people were sent into shock on Thursday after a Grad-model Katyusha rocket hit a house in Ashkelon. It marks the first time ever that a building in the western Negev town has been struck in a rocket attack. Four Grad rockets hit the city in the Thursday afternoon attack. Moments earlier, a 70-year-old woman was lightly wounded and 14 people were sent into shock as Kassam rockets continued to hit Sderot.” — Jerusalem Post, February 29, 2008.

“A man described by police as a student in his 30s died Wednesday when Sapir College suffered a rocket strike. Another man suffered a leg injury. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, one of at least 20 rockets it fired at the southern Israeli town from the nearby Gaza Strip since the morning.” — Jewish Telegraphic Agency, February 27, 2008.

“Two Qassam rockets hit an Israeli building near Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel on Wednesday night....Three rockets were fired from the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday evening.” — Ynet news, February 21, 2008.

“Five rockets fired at Sderot, Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. One hits chicken coop, causing heavy damage....” — Ynet news, February 19, 2008.

“Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Monday fired a barrage of nine Qassam rockets at the western Negev, one of which struck the yard of a house in Sderot....Two of the rockets struck near an infirmary in a kibbutz....The strike caused some damage and four people were treated for shock.” — Haaretz, February 19, 2008.

“Two Qassam rockets were fired Wednesday afternoon from the northern Gaza Strip towards the southern town of Sderot. One of the rockets directly hit a house in the city, causing damage. Several people suffered from shock.” — Ynet news, February 13, 2008.

“Kassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in Sderot on Wednesday afternoon. Several people were treated for shock as a result of the attack, and the house sustained damage.” — Jerusalem Post, February 13, 2008.

“Israeli security forces have reported at least 22 rocket strikes on Friday, with at least 12 landing in Sderot, five landing south of Ashkelon, and one striking a green house in the western Negev. A number of people have been treated for shock as a result of the attacks. On Thursday, some 20 Kassam rockets pounded the western Negev. One rocket struck a direct hit on a garage adjacent to a home in Sderot, setting it ablaze and sending three people into shock.” — Jerusalem Post, February 8, 2008.

“The Islamic Hamas movement's armed wing said Wednesday that its fighters have launched some 26 homemade rockets into Israeli targets near Gaza since Tuesday night.” — Xinhua, February 5, 2008.

“A 14-year-old girl was moderately wounded by flying shrapnel when a Qassam rocket fired from northern Gaza on Tuesday evening struck a house in Sderot.” — Ynet news, February 5, 2008.

“Three Kassam rockets were fired at southern Ashkelon Tuesday evening.” — Jerusalem Post, February 5, 2008.

“There is a growing assessment within the security establishment that the suicide bombers who perpetrated the attack in Dimona which killed one woman and wounded 38 other people came from Hebron....” — Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2008.

“Four Kassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip landed in open spaces outside Sderot.” — Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2008.

“At least 30 Qassams were fired by Palestinians in Gaza on Thursday toward Sderot and nearby western Negev communities. Three people sustained mild injuries in the attack and a number of others suffered from shock. Two rockets landed in a residential area and caused damage to a number of homes, one of which is located near an elementary school. Another Qassam hit the city’s industrial zone, while the rest landed in open fields.” — Ynet news, January 5, 2008.

“At least thirty Kassam rockets were fired at the western Negev early Wednesday morning, 11 of them at Ashkelon and 12 at Sderot.” — Jerusalem Post, January 16, 2008.

“A foreign volunteer was killed at Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, a few people were lightly wounded in Sderot, and dozens of Qassam rockets and mortar shells fell on communities near Gaza and a Katyusha rocket hit Ashkelon.” — Haaretz, January 16, 2008.

“Four people were wounded, two moderately and two lightly, as a pair of Kassam rockets scored direct hits on houses in Sderot on Tuesday evening. The rockets were part of a volley of seven rockets. Approximately an hour later, another rocket landed in the town's center causing no casualties.” — Jerusalem Post, January 15, 2008.

“Fatah’s armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, launched a rocket at the Israeli city of Ashkelon, north of Gaza on Sunday. The military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility on Sunday for firing 13 mortar shells. The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility for launching 10 rockets at Sderot on Saturday. The military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, the An-Nasser Salah Addin Brigades, claimed responsibility on Friday for launching a rocket at Sderot. The An-Nasser Brigades and the Fatah-affiliated Ahmad Abu Ar-Rish Brigades said their fighters launched two rockets at Ashkelon on Friday. The military wing affiliated to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Fatah's Al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility for firing a rocket at the Sufa crossing on Friday.” — Daily Alert, January 14, 2008.

“Gazans greeted US President George W. Bush with more than a dozen Kassam rockets and mortar shells on Wednesday, including one instance in which a mother and baby narrowly escaped death as a rocket slammed in to the Sderot house in which they were staying.” — Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2008.

“Two Qassam rockets fired from northern Gaza Strip landed in the town of Sderot Saturday evening, causing several local residents to suffer shock....Four Qassam rockets landed in Sderot Friday....A nine-month pregnant woman suffered shock in the attack.” — Ynet news, January 5, 2008.

“Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched three Kassam rockets at the town of Sderot Thursday. One of the rockets fell near a house, leaving several people in shock and causing some damage to the surrounding area.” — Jerusalem Post, January 3, 2008.

“A Qassam rocket fired from northern Gaza landed near a hotel in the town of Ashkelon Thursday morning.” — Ynet news, January 3, 2008.

“Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced a cease-fire Tuesday, hailing it as a new opportunity for peace in the Middle East.” — Jerusalem Post, February 8, 2005.

¨Abbas has explicitly said he would not disarm terrorist groups or dismantle their infrastructure.

¨Abbas has said he will stop attacks on Israel.

¨Abbas has also said he will not use force to confront terror.

¨Hamas rejects Abbas’s orders.

“The American officers responsible for monitoring Israeli and Palestinian compliance with the road map peace plan recently criticized the Palestinian Authority's counterterrorism efforts....Specifically, the Americans are concerned that the PA does not engage in the full spectrum of counterterrorism activities, including arrests, interrogation and trial, as it would if it were trying to eradicate the armed wings of Islamic terrorist organizations.” — Haaretz, March 28, 2008.

“Incoming Palestinian interior minister Saeed Seyam, chosen by Hamas to oversee three security services, said on Thursday he will not order the arrest of militants carrying out attacks against Israel.” — Reuters, March 23, 2006.

“IDF forces killed early Thursday at least two terrorists belonging to Islamic Jihad’s armed wing as they were attempting to place a bomb along the security fence in central Gaza.” — Ynet news, March 23, 2006.

“On Sunday, IDF soldiers arrested two Palestinians at the Beit Iba checkpoint north of Nablus after discovering in their possession a 15-kilogram explosive device.” — Haaretz, March 13, 2006.

“The defense establishment has identified a joint effort by Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah to initiate a new wave of terror....Security sources told Haaretz that the Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah headquarters in Damascus and Beirut were streaming large sums of money into the territories to spur on terror cells to carry out attacks.” — Haaretz, February 6, 2006.

“IDF forces operating in Jenin this weekend surrounded a headquarters for Palestinian military intelligence following information that several wanted Islamic Jihad terrorists were hiding in the building....The Palestinian commander admitted that he had aided the Islamic Jihad terrorists, who had hidden in the building overnight.” — IDF, January 3, 2006.

“A Palestinian suicide bomber killed five people outside an Israeli falafel stand. Islamic Jihad claimed reponsibility for Wednesday´s attack on Hadera, calling it "revenge" for Israel´s killing earlier in the week of its top West Bank commander in an army raid. At least 33 people were also wounded by the terrorist, who blew himself up in the town´s outdoor market. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a condemnation.” — JTA, October 27, 2005.

“Abbas's national security advisor, Jibril Rajoub, denied on Tuesday that the PA was planning to disarm Hamas or any other armed group. ‘We haven't called for disarming anyone,’ Rajoub said. ‘There is no decision to collect [illegal] weapons and we haven't taken any steps in this direction.’” — Jerusalem Post, October 18, 2005.

“Palestinian Authority police were given orders Thursday to round up guns from terrorist factions and, thereafter, to arrest anyone seen in public with an unlicensed weapon....The round-up of weapons, while likely to be welcomed by Israel, falls short of the Palestinian Authority’s obligation under the U.S.-led ‘road map’ to dismantle terrorist groups.” — JTA, September 30, 2005.

“The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday rejected an appeal from the Quartet to dismantle armed militias and called on the international community to stop meddling in the Palestinians' internal affairs....PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the appeal, saying the Palestinians knew how to handle their own affairs. ‘With regard to the issue of the armed Palestinian groups and our dealings with them, this is an internal affair.’”— Jerusalem Post, September 22, 2005.

“The Palestinian Authority on Saturday released two men jailed in connection with the February 25 suicide bombing at the Stage club in Tel Aviv, in a bid to persuade Islamic Jihad to abide by the unofficial truce with Israel.” — Jerusalem Post, June 11, 2005.

¨PA Interior Minister Abdel Razzak Yahya, who is formally in charge of the Fatah-controlled security forces in the West Bank, said that the PA was determined to disarm all armed groups as required by the road map plan for peace in the Middle East.

¨Similar orders given in the past were never implemented.

¨Militant factions vow resistance to surrendering weapons, and use the cease-fire period to enhance their weapons’ arsenal.

“Several Palestinian armed groups on Sunday rejected attempts by the Palestinian Authority to confiscate their weapons, vowing to thwart such moves.” — Jerusalem Post, November 18, 2007.

“Khaled Mashaal, whose group has carried out dozens of deadly suicide attacks on Israelis over the years, also restated Hamas' rejection of U.S. and Israeli demands to disarm.” — AP, November 30, 2005.

“Defying a Palestinian Authority ban on public displays of weapons, about 1,000 people brandishing assault rifles and rocket launchers marched through Gaza City on Thursday and vowed to hold on to their arms. Members of the Al Aksa Martyrs' Brigades, fired into the air while their leaders made speeches insisting on the right to bear arms against Israel.” — Jerusalem Post, November 17, 2005.

“The Palestinian Authority announced on Sunday a security plan aimed at disbanding the armed wing of Fatah and recruiting hundreds of its members to the security forces....It was also unclear Sunday night whether all Fatah militiamen had accepted the plan....the plan is directed first and foremost towards Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, whose members are largely responsible for the current state of lawlessness and anarchy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” — Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2005.

“Thousands of Hamas terrorists paraded with weapons through the streets of Gaza City on Sunday in the group's largest show of force in years, defying Palestinian efforts to ban public arms displays.” — Ynetnews.com, September 19, 2005.

“Abbas ruled out disarming Hamas, saying any such attempt "would be a useless move destined to plunge us into a civil war.” — Jerusalem Post, September 12, 2005.

“Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Nasser al-Kidwa declared on Saturday that the PA has no intention to disarm armed Palestinian groups as demanded by the road map peace plan.” — Jerusalem Post, (June 11, 2005)

“We are committed to resistance and will not consent to any dismantling of resistance groups and laying down arms before the occupation leaves our land.” — Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal told Al-Jazeera TV, AP, May 26

“The Palestinian Authority reiterated Wednesday it had no intention of disarming militants despite constant Israeli calls for such a move and a recent pledge to crack down on unlicensed weapons.” — Reuters, May 4, 2005.

“‘As far as I know, the Palestinians have completed gathering the weapons of wanted militants in Jericho,’ [head of Israeli military intelligence] Maj. Gen. Aharon Ze’evi told Israel Radio on Thursday, according to Ha’aretz. But P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas has ‘no intention of using force against Hamas and collecting its weapons,’ Ze’evi said.” — JTA, May 6, 2005.

“Palestinians told [Israel Radio Arab Affair Correspondent Avi Yissakharov] that while the PA has made announcements regarding the collection of weapons that in fact the weapons have yet to be collected.” — Israel Radio, April 19, 2005.

“Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that his security forces have collected the weapons of all the fugitives in Jericho and Tulkarm - the cities which were transferred recently to Palestinian security control. Abbas further assured that arms would be confiscated in all cities that would be transferred to PA control, including weapons in the hands of Hamas members.” — Jerusalem Post, April 19, 2005.

“Only policemen and security personnel will be allowed to carry weapons.” — President Mahmoud Abbas, Jerusalem Post, January 27, 2005.

“We agreed to hide our weapons, to keep them out of public view, but we are not going to hand them over to the Palestinian Authority," said Kamal Ghanem, an Al-Aqsa Brigades fugitive....[Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman] said a demand that gunmen hand over their weapons ‘is not acceptable.’” — Associated Press,  April 6, 2005.

¨Abbas has acknowledged the need for such consolidation, and has said he will merge the security forces into three organizations. He has not yet done so.

¨The Palestinian Authority has been unable to impose law and order and the areas under its control have grown increasingly chaotic.

“It is a well-known fact that the vast majority of incidents that create the chaotic security situation in the territories originate with the security forces themselves....Abu Mazen has tried to compromise, mediate and outline agreements with the heads of the security services, but in practice, it turned out that he is incapable of controlling them and imposing security reforms.” — Haaretz, November 29, 2005.

“Palestinian Authority policemen went on a rampage in Nablus....The incident is the latest sign of growing anarchy and lawlessness in Nablus and other Palestinian communities.” — Jerusalem Post, September 19, 2005.

“Hundreds of members of the dominant Palestinian Fatah movement began training in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday for what they said would be a popular army to help keep law and order after Israel withdraws this month....It was far from clear how any new force might fit into the security structure and appeared certain to add to the current jumble of at least a dozen forces, many divided by deep rivalries and with a poor history of cooperation.” — Reuters, August 2, 2005.

“Some 50 members of the Palestinian Authority's Military Intelligence Force on Wednesday blocked main roads and stormed public buildings in the Gaza Strip in protest against the PA's decision to reconstruct the Palestinian security forces. Armed with AK 47 assault rifles, the protesters also raided the offices of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Rafah, demanding that the PA rescind its decision.” – Jerusalem Post, June 1, 2005.

“We will also work towards merging the security forces into three organizations” – Jerusalem Post, January 27, 2005.

¨Abbas has agreed to pay government subsidies to the families of terrorists.

“On the very day of a suicide bombing in Netanya, it has been reported that the chairman of the Palestinian Authority gave budgetary approval to assistance for the families of suicide bombers.    Each martyr's family will receive a monthly stipend of at least $250 from the PA.” — News First Class (Hebrew), December 5, 2005.

“Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to unfreeze Hamas funds held in a number of Palestinian banks.” — Jerusalem Post, February 14, 2005.

“The U.S. hopes the PA will cooperate with Israel to halt the flow of money to terrorist organizations, Undersecretary of the Treasury Stuart Levey, who heads the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said Monday during a visit to the region.” — Haaretz,  February 15, 2005.

¨Abbas has asserted his intention to reduce incitement, and initial actions are underway.

¨Abbas called Israel the “Zionist enemy” during his election campaign.

¨Incitement continues to be found in P.A. institutions, including the media.

“The distribution of anti-Israeli anti-Semitic hate propaganda continues throughout the Palestinian Authority (PA)–administered territories. Although both the electronic and printed PA-controlled media have lowered the tone of their hate propaganda under Abu Mazen, the Palestinian terrorist organizations (and other Palestinian elements) have found alternative methods for distributing its (often anti-Semitic) propaganda and inculcating incitement to hatred and violence among Palestinians. The PA has limited the diffusion of such messages by its official media, but does not take effective steps to stop it as part of its policy of not confronting the Palestinian terrorist organizations.” — Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies, December 5, 2005.

“Following The Jerusalem Post's report Tuesday that Palestinian textbooks contained references to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion as an integral part’ of Zionist history, the Palestinian Authority has promised to remove the mention from future textbooks.”— Jerusalem Post,  July 14, 2005.

“Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Mohamed Dahlan accused on Wednesday the Jewish settlers for poisoning the lands in the settlements that Israel is intending to evacuate in mid August.” — People's Daily Online ,  June 29, 2005.

“Following the Revelations on the Israel Resource Review on April 30th, 2005 and May 1st, 2005 (www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com) that the official Palestinian Authority media has been alleging that Israeli soldiers have been murdering women at checkpoints with the use of radiation equipment, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister commented that ‘The Government of Israel rejects such charges in no uncertain terms and sees this Palestinian statement as part of an orchestrated campaign of incitement against the state and people of Israel.’”

“The Palestinian Authority has decided to impose restrictions on preachers who deliver sermons in West Bank and Gaza Strip mosques...The move is seen as an attempt by the PA leadership to stop incitement against Israel and the US in mosques.”— Jerusalem Post,  March 9, 2005.

“Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told the Israeli Cabinet Sunday that there has been a substantial change in the content of Palestinian television broadcasts in the past few days. ‘This is evident in the end of inciting broadcasts," he said. However, "the change must be deeper and include public awareness, starting with the education system, universities and so on, where the change in content is not yet evident.’”— Haaretz,  February 7, 2005.

“Palestinan television has been ordered to cleanse its screens of bloody imagery by the newly elected president, Mahmoud Abbas, to chime with a new mood of ‘peacemaking'' in the region.’” — Telegraph,  February 6, 2005.

¨Abbas appointed Salam Fayed as the new Prime Minister to replace Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.

“Salam Fayed is a former World Bank economist, he ran as the head of a third way group of independents in the elections that actually brought Hamas to power, then the Hamas-led government was boycotted by the international community, but when Hamas and Fatah formed a unity government in March, Salam Fayed was named the finance minister, and the US and the EU resumed contact, at least through him.” — AM, June 16, 2007.

¨Implemented.

“I extend my hand in peace to Mahmoud Abbas, elected President of the Palestinian Authority. On behalf of the State of Israel, we are willing to negotiate with a Palestinian Authority.” - Prime Minister Olmert Speech to Congress, May 24, 2006.

“Mr. Sharon also spoke ‘about the Palestinian independent democratic state’ and ‘about the occupation, never to be an occupier anymore,’ Mr. Abbas said.” — New York Times, February 14, 2005.

“In today’s Government decision [in favor of disengagement], Israel proved that it is willing to make painful compromises and take great steps towards achieving peace. I said that many times, and I would like to repeat it today.” — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, February 20, 2005.

“To our Palestinian neighbors, I assure you that we have a genuine intention to respect your right to live independently and in dignity. I have already said that Israel has no desire to continue to govern over you and control your fate. We in Israel have had to painfully wake up from our dreams, and we are determined to overcome all the obstacles which might stand in our path in order to realize the new chance which has been created.” — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, February 8, 2005.

“For their part, the Palestinians can then also live in dignity and freedom in an independent state, and, together with us, enjoy good neighborly relations, while cooperating for the good of both our peoples..” — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, December 16, 2004.

“We can also reassure our Palestinian partners that we understand the importance of territorial contiguity in the West Bank for a viable Palestinian state.” — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, June 4, 2003.

“It is in Israel's interest not to govern the Palestinians, but for the Palestinians to govern themselves in their own state. A democratic Palestinian state fully at peace with Israel will promote the long-term security and well-being of Israel as a Jewish state.” — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, June 4, 2003.