Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas denied responsibility on Wednesday for a massive Israeli raid on Jericho jail, dismissing British and United States claims he had been warned they were withdrawing their protection.
”I admit that the British and Americans told us that they would withdraw a week ago, but they did not inform us when they would withdraw,” Abbas told reporters as he toured the ruins of the West Bank prison.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had strongly denied Palestinian charges of collusion with the Israeli operation, which started just minutes after the withdrawal of British monitors. He insisted that London had informed both Israel and the Palestinians of the pull-out on March 8.
”What happened in Jericho is a dreadful crime and a violation of all the agreements,” Abbas said, referring to the 2002 Ramallah accord that established Anglo-US monitoring of the incarceration there of six militants wanted by Israel.
”Israel had no right to carry out this kidnapping. After the British told us they were withdrawing, we suggested that we take all six to Ramallah but we didn’t manage to do that.
”As a consequence, there is definitely no responsibility for the Palestinian Authority about this issue.”
Abbas reiterated calls for Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Ahmed Saadat and the other five militants to be returned immediately to the previous custody arrangements.
The moderate Palestinian Authority president had cut short a European tour to rush home to manage the crisis sparked by the Israeli raid in which two Palestinians security guards were killed and 26 wounded, five of them critically.
Palestinian security forces remained on high alert on Wednesday after the raid sparked angry attacks on British and US offices and an unprecedented spate of kidnappings of foreigners, all of whom were later released.
Abbas said he could understand the popular ”anger” but appealed for a halt to the anti-Western violence.
”We call on our people not to attack foreigners of foreign organisations. Whether Western or non-Western, they are our guests and came here to help us,” the Palestinian leader said. — AFP
