Mansour Abbas Presents Two Different Faces to Jewish and Arab Audiences

During the May 2021 "Guardian of the Walls" riots, Lod experienced significant violence, including the murder of a Jewish resident, arson of synagogues and homes, and shootings. In one incident, Arab rioters attacked a Jewish neighborhood, and in the ensuing confrontation, Musa Hassouna was killed. Hassouna's family has a history of involvement in violence, with relatives implicated in the lynching of Yigal Yehoshua and other violent acts.

While Israeli media highlighted Knesset Member Mansour Abbas condemning the burning of a synagogue and pledging funds for its repair, a less-reported event occurred simultaneously. In Arabic, Abbas delivered a eulogy for Musa Hassouna, praising him as a martyr and emphasizing devotion to the land watered by their blood. He told Hassouna's father that God chose him and his son to express the nation's adherence to their cause and their grievances.

The article contrasts Abbas's public statements in Hebrew with his private remarks in Arabic, suggesting a deliberate duality. It cites numerous instances where Abbas has allegedly expressed solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, praised Palestinian unity under the "Palestinian flag," prayed for the recovery of Islamic Jihad activists, condemned the "Zionist movement's land theft," and celebrated the victory of the Mavi Marmara flotilla activists, whom he called martyrs.

Furthermore, the article details Abbas's alleged past associations and statements, including support for Bassil Ghattas after his arrest for smuggling phones to terrorists, attending events promoting unity among Palestinian factions where Israel was labeled the enemy, and visiting the families of convicted terrorists. He is also accused of praising a woman protesting the metal detectors at the Temple Mount and visiting Raed Salah, who was imprisoned for inciting terrorism.

The piece criticizes the normalization of political alliances with Abbas and his party, Ra'am, particularly in light of their alleged past cooperation with terror organizations like Hamas. It points to instances where Ra'am's sister organization, "Aid 48," held events with Hamas officials like Ghazi Hamad, who later justified the October 7th massacre. The article argues that any discussion of partnership with Ra'am must acknowledge these facts, asserting that excluding supporters of terror is not the same as excluding Arabs.

Finally, the article references a recent statement by Abbas in Arabic, reportedly expressing no desire for the existence of the Jewish state, which he described as having been "imposed" upon him. This is contrasted with his public persona and the efforts of some, like Yoav Segalovitz, to present him as a pragmatic partner.