Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jail
Photo: Hagai Aharon
US Orthodox groups slam PA prisoners’ document
Coalition of American Orthodox Jewish organizations says document contains ‘unbridled affirmation of Palestinian violence against Israelis,’ and attempts to undermine Road Map for peace
A coalition of American Orthodox Jewish organizations on Thursday strongly criticized the “Palestinian National Accord,” also known as the Prisoner’s Manifesto or document.
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The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the Rabbinical Council of America, National Council of Young Israel and Religious Zionists of America said in a joint statement, “People interested in Middle East peace cannot accept the ‘Palestinian National Accord,’ as it was written by terrorists and mass-murders currently serving time in jail for their horrendous crimes.
“The document contains unbridled affirmation of Palestinian violence against Israelis, and it attempts to undermine the Road Map for peace that Israel, the United States and the “Quartet” partners have been working for. Despite assertions to the contrary, the Palestinian National Accord offers no prospects for a cessation of violence against Israelis or for a negotiated settlement of any kind,” the statement said.
'Document endorses use of violence'
According to the Orthodox groups, “nowhere in the document is there an explicit - or even implicit -recognition of Israel as a Jewish state or of Israel’s right to exist.
“Neither is there any explicit endorsement in the document of a two-state solution. There is no language stipulating that the document’s proposed borders would be the territorial limits of a Palestinian state or that the Palestinians would abandon claims to the rest of Israel,” they said.
“The document affirms and endorses the use of violence against Israeli soldiers and of terrorism against civilians and explicitly calls for greater organization and coordination among the Palestinian security forces ‘defending the homeland and the citizens and in confronting the aggression and the occupation’.”
