Arab Israeli Leader Refuses to Label Hamas Terrorist Group to President Herzog
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, refused to label Hamas a terrorist organization during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, citing security concerns. Abbas stated he needs to maintain a role as a mediator and avoid being branded a traitor. He also expressed support for a two-state solution and the U.S. peace plan, calling for Hamas's disarmament and removal from power. The exchange highlights potential coalition formation challenges.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Mansour Abbas refused to label Hamas a terrorist group during talks with President Herzog.
- Abbas cited personal security and the need to act as a mediator as reasons for his stance.
- Ra'am plans to recommend Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government.
- Eisenkot has made recognizing Hamas as terrorist a condition for coalition partners.
- Abbas supports a two-state solution and the U.S. peace plan for Gaza.
- Abbas criticized "loyalty tests" imposed on Arab politicians.
Mansour Abbas, the head of the Arab Israeli Ra'am party, declined on Thursday to explicitly label Hamas as a terrorist organization during consultations with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Abbas cited concerns for his personal safety and that of his family as the reason for his refusal. The meeting occurred as President Herzog is meeting with various political party representatives to determine who will be tasked with forming the next Israeli government. Ra'am has announced its intention to recommend Gadi Eisenkot for the role of prime minister, despite Eisenkot having made the recognition of Hamas as a terrorist group a condition for parties joining his potential coalition. When directly asked about his stance on Hamas, Abbas avoided a direct affirmation, though he repeatedly condemned terrorism and political violence. He explained his position by stating a desire to maintain his ability to act as an intermediary between different parties, asking to be allowed "this space to be a bridge, to also be able to influence the other side." He added, "Don't make us supporters of terrorism or traitors." Abbas also highlighted the personal risks involved in taking a more explicit stance, calling it a "matter of life and death" and requesting room to maneuver to ensure his protection and that of his relatives. Nevertheless, Abbas reaffirmed his opposition to all forms of terrorist violence, regardless of the victim. He also reiterated his support for a two-state solution and the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, calling for the disarmament of Hamas and all armed groups, and for the Islamist movement to be removed from power. Finally, the Ra'am leader criticized the "loyalty tests" often imposed on Arab political officials, arguing that similar demands are not placed on Jewish lawmakers regarding extremist Jewish terrorism. He noted that no member of his party has been indicted or convicted for terrorism-related offenses. These statements underscore the potential tensions surrounding coalition formation negotiations.
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