The Hamas movement reacted on Tuesday to a recent interview by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, slamming his condemnation of the recent wave small-scale attacks by Palestinians.

In an interview broadcast on Thursday by the Israeli Channel 2, Abbas reiterated his commitment to the Palestinian Authority’s security coordination with Israel, arguing that it was a major factor in curbing Palestinian attacks against Israeli targets.

“If we give up security coordination there will be chaos here,” he told Channel 2. “There will be rifles, and explosions and armed militants popping up everywhere and rushing at Israel. Without the coordination, a bloody intifada would break out. I want to cooperate with the Israelis. There is an agreement between us and I am not ashamed by it.”

Abbas also stated that PA security forces have raided schools in the occupied West Bank and confiscated scores of knifes from young students.
“We took the knives. We spoke to them and said this was a mistake,” Abbas said “That we don’t want them to kill or die and that we want them to live and the other to live as well.”

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Abbas’ statements were “harming to the Palestinian interests,” and called on the Palestinian president to “abandon positions which offer cover to Israeli crimes and encourage the occupation to carry out further repression against Palestinians.”

More than 200 Palestinians and nearly 30 Israelis have been killed since a surge in violence began in the occupied Palestinian territory last October.

(MEMO)