Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has called upon world leaders to support a move to oust PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). A spokesman for Abu Mazen calls Lieberman’s letter to world leaders “incitement”. The move was also condemned by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whose aides were quick to point out Lieberman’s views are not reflective of the prime minister or his administration.

Nabil Abu Rudeina called on members of the Quartet (USA, Russia, EU, UN) to openly reject the foreign minister’s letter, accusing Lieberman of “meddling in internal Palestinian affairs”.

Lieberman calls for holding general elections in PA areas to elect a new leader.

Haaretz reports it obtained a copy of the letter, which is dated August 20, 2012, releasing a portion.

“The Palestinian Authority is a despotic government riddled with corruption. This pattern of behavior has led to criticism even within his own constituency. Due to Abbas’ weak standing and his policy of not renewing the [peace] negotiations, which is an obstacle to peace, the time has come to consider a creative solution, to think ‘outside the box,’ in order to strengthen the Palestinian leadership.”

In another Abbas-related item, the PA leader in a statement released on Tuesday, 3 Elul 5772 denied the Jewish connection to Yerushalayim. He stated that no matter what excavations and construction are carried out by Israel, “the city will forever remain Arabic, Islamic and Christian”.

Abbas, viewed by Israeli leaders as the “moderate” also made reference Denis Michael Rohan, an Australian citizen who gained worldwide infamy on 21 August 1969, when he attempted to set fire to the Al-Aqsa mosque. Rohan was arrested for the arson attack on 23 August 1969. He was tried, found to be insane, and hospitalized in a mental institution. On 14 May 1974, he was later deported from Israel “on humanitarian grounds, for further psychiatric treatment near his family”. He was subsequently transferred to the Callan Park Hospital in Australia. In 1995, he was reported to have died under psychiatric care.

Abbas stressed the need to protect Yerushalayim against Israel, adding “the fire, set by a criminal under the eyes of the Israeli Occupation Authorities, was the first in a series aiming to demolish al- Aqsa mosque and build the alleged Temple in order to uproot its citizens, Judaize it and eternalize its occupation.”

Mark Regev, a spokesman for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded by announcing the Jewish People’s connection to Yerushalayim dates back 3,000 years. “Ignoring that connection is to ignore reality”, explained Regev, who expressed disappointment over the PA leader’s comments.

Regev added that since Jerusalem has been returned to Israeli control, we have been witness to unparalleled growth and expansions as well as religious freedom for all, with Israel safeguarding all holy sites, pointing out things were quite different in the pre-1967 days [before the liberation of the city in the June 1967 War].

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)