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1.
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has repeatedly denied or minimized the Holocaust, including in his 1982 doctoral dissertation and subsequent statements, contradicting basic historical facts.
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2.
The PA's martyr payments system provides financial incentives to families of individuals who commit violent attacks against Israeli civilians, institutionalizing support for terrorism.
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PA-controlled media and educational materials regularly promote antisemitic content and glorify violence against Israelis, undermining genuine peace education efforts.
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Official PA maps and textbooks often omit Israel entirely or show it as part of Palestine, contradicting stated commitments to a two-state solution.
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PA security forces have been documented coordinating with or failing to prevent terrorist activities, despite international training and support for counterterrorism efforts.
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6.
Abbas has refused to condemn specific terrorist attacks and has praised perpetrators of violence against Israeli civilians as heroes and martyrs.
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7.
The PA's political survival depends partly on maintaining radical credibility, creating structural incentives against genuine moderation and peaceful coexistence.
Understanding Palestinian Authority Leadership
The Palestinian Authority (PA) under Mahmoud Abbas is often characterized in international diplomatic circles as a moderate partner for peace. However, a careful examination of documented statements, policies, and actions reveals significant contradictions with this characterization that merit serious consideration.
Historical Revisionism and Holocaust Denial
Mahmoud Abbas's relationship with historical truth regarding the Holocaust is well-documented and deeply troubling. His 1982 doctoral dissertation, titled "The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism," denied the scope of the Holocaust and suggested Zionist collaboration with Nazis. The dissertation claimed that fewer than one million Jews died in the Holocaust, contradicting overwhelming historical evidence and survivor testimony.
This wasn't merely an academic exercise from decades past. Abbas has made similar statements throughout his career, including suggestions that Zionists collaborated in the Holocaust for political gain. Such historical revisionism is not only factually incorrect but represents a form of Holocaust denial that undermines the documented suffering of six million Jewish victims.
The Martyr Payment System
One of the most concrete examples of PA policies that contradict claims of moderation is the "Pay for Slay" program, officially known as the Palestinian Authority Martyrs Fund. This system provides monthly payments to families of Palestinians killed while committing attacks against Israelis, as well as salaries to imprisoned terrorists.
The payments are scaled according to the length of prison sentences, meaning those convicted of more serious crimes receive higher compensation. This creates a direct financial incentive for violent attacks against Israeli civilians. Despite international pressure and the withholding of funds by donors, the PA has continued this program, arguing it provides social support to Palestinian families.
The European Union, United States, and other international bodies have repeatedly raised concerns about these payments, with some donors implementing mechanisms to ensure their funds don't support such activities. The PA's insistence on maintaining this system despite diplomatic consequences demonstrates the priority placed on these payments.
Educational Content and Media Messaging
Multiple studies by research organizations have documented concerning content in PA-controlled educational materials and media. Textbooks used in PA schools often present maps showing all of historic Palestine without Israel, include poems glorifying martyrdom, and contain antisemitic content that goes beyond legitimate criticism of Israeli policies.
PA-controlled television has broadcast children's programming featuring characters that promote violence against Israelis and Jews. The Mickey Mouse-like character "Farfour" became internationally notorious for promoting hatred and violence to young viewers before international pressure led to the character being removed from programming.
These educational and media approaches directly contradict the peace education that would be expected from an organization genuinely committed to peaceful coexistence and a negotiated two-state solution.
Security Coordination Contradictions
While the PA does engage in security coordination with Israel and has received extensive training and support from international partners, this cooperation exists alongside troubling contradictions. PA security personnel have been involved in terrorist attacks against Israelis, and the organization has failed to consistently prevent or condemn such actions by its own forces.
The PA's security apparatus operates within a complex political environment where demonstrating toughness against Israel can provide internal legitimacy, creating incentives that work against consistent counterterrorism efforts.
Political Incentives and Internal Legitimacy
The PA leadership faces significant internal political pressures that affect its approach to Israel and peace negotiations. Abbas hasn't faced elections since 2005, and his legitimacy depends partly on maintaining credibility as a resistant to Israeli policies among Palestinian constituencies that include more radical factions.
This political dynamic creates structural incentives against taking positions that could be perceived as too accommodating toward Israel, even when such positions might advance peace negotiations. The result is often public rhetoric and policy positions that contradict stated commitments to peaceful resolution.
Understanding these political pressures doesn't excuse harmful policies or rhetoric, but it helps explain why the PA's actions often contradict its stated moderate positions in international forums.
The Impact on Regional Stability
The contradiction between the PA's diplomatic statements and its domestic policies has real consequences for regional stability and the prospects for peace. When educational systems promote hatred, when violence is financially incentivized, and when leaders deny basic historical facts, the foundation for sustainable peace negotiations is undermined.
International partners who continue to treat the PA as a moderate peace partner without addressing these contradictions may inadvertently enable policies that work against their stated goals of promoting stability and peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Recognizing these realities doesn't preclude diplomatic engagement, but it should inform more realistic expectations and more effective approaches to promoting actual moderation and genuine preparation for peaceful coexistence.
Moving Forward with Clear Eyes
Addressing the challenges posed by PA policies and rhetoric requires honest acknowledgment of documented contradictions between stated positions and actual behavior. This doesn't mean abandoning diplomatic efforts, but rather conditioning support and engagement on concrete changes in education, incitement, and financial incentives for violence.
International partners have the leverage and responsibility to demand accountability for policies that undermine peace efforts. Only by honestly assessing these challenges can effective strategies be developed to promote genuine moderation and create conditions for sustainable peace.
Understanding these documented contradictions between stated positions and actual policies is essential for developing effective approaches to Middle East peace that address root causes of conflict rather than merely managing symptoms.