Mahmoud Abbas Quotations

We cannot build foundations of a state without rule of law.

We need international support so that our people live a life of normality, of dignity, of liberty and freedom. I hope that our cry for freedom may be heard.

We always have hoped that American diplomacy deploys itself in dialogue and persuasion rather than by ultimatums. That is the path we want in international relations.

The time has come to end the suffering and the plight of millions of Palestine refugees in the homeland and the Diaspora, to end their displacement and to realize their rights, some of them forced to take refuge more than once in different places of the world.

We have one authority and one law and everyone has the responsibility to follow that law and that authority.

I can certainly put myself in Israel's shoes. They are humans just like we are. They want peace and security inside their borders.

Let us all pledge to protect this opportunity in order to see that the wish of peace becomes a true and daily fact in this region.

I say: The time has come for my courageous and proud people, after decades of displacement and colonial occupation and ceaseless suffering, to live like other peoples of the earth, free in a sovereign and independent homeland.

Our efforts are not aimed at isolating Israel or de-legitimizing it; rather we want to gain legitimacy for the cause of the people of Palestine. We only aim to de-legitimize the settlement activities and the occupation and apartheid and the logic of ruthless force, and we believe that all the countries of the world stand with us in this regard.

We have accepted the principle of democracy and we are committed to respect the popular verdict and the result of that national consultation.

We have agreed with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to cease all acts of violence against the Israelis and against the Palestinians wherever they are. Tranquility and quiet that will be witnessed and in our land, starting today, is the beginning for a new era.

The core issue here is that the Israeli government refuses to commit to terms of reference for the negotiations that are based on international law and United Nations resolutions, and that it frantically continues to intensify building of settlements on the territory of the State of Palestine.

Israel reoccupied the cities of the West Bank by a unilateral action, and reestablished the civil and military occupation by a unilateral action, and it is the one that determines whether or not a Palestinian citizen has the right to reside in any part of the Palestinian Territory.

We cannot build a viable state with a country that is disintegrating into small pieces.

Here, I declare that the Palestine Liberation Organization is ready to return immediately to the negotiating table on the basis of the adopted terms of reference based on international legitimacy and a complete cessation of settlement activities.

The PLO and the Palestinian people adhere to the renouncement of violence and rejection and condemning of terrorism in all its forms, especially State terrorism, and adhere to all agreements signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel.

And also I assert our interest in respecting all our obligations and implementing all our commitments. And will save no effort whatever to protect this newborn opportunity of peace, that is provided through what we have already declared here today.

We expect President Bush to implement his own vision of a two-state solution, the birth of the Palestinian State and the ending of the occupation that started in 1967.

We want the Israelis to leave. They want to leave - so let us let them leave.

No state on earth can afford to allow several authorities to co-exist next to one another.

We differ on several issues. And this may include settlement, the release of prisoners, the wall closing institutions in Jerusalem.

There is a requirement to ensure the withdrawal takes place in a civilized manner. We will be able to show the world we deserve independence and freedom.

It is high time that the Palestinian people restore their freedom and independence. It is high time that the decades, the long decades of suffering and pain would stop.

Until now, we haven't asked anyone to form the government. We are carrying on contacts with all factions, and of course we will ask the party that won the majority to form the government.

We're back to square one. Now we need time to regain calm. Our people need a quiet life and to make a living.

We are all in agreement that Jerusalem has to be included in the election. And if it is not included, all the factions agree that there will be no elections.

This pullout is a result of our sacrifice, of our patience, the sacrifice of our people, the steadfastness, and the wise people of our nation,

We need to look at the West Bank and end the occupation there,

so it will become a model of civilization for the rest of the world.

She asserted to him that U.S. administration will continue supporting the elected president and his policies.

Of course, I am going to ask the majority party to form the government.

no one would have the right to cancel any of the issues that the Israelis and the Palestinians would negotiate to find a final permanent solution for all these issues.

negatively influence the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon.

only with an international agreement because we want to do the right thing at the right time, to behave as a state in a responsible way.

I have dealt with him and I know him well. He has his positions and his views but we will deal with him without any preconceptions.

I am convinced that we could sign a peace accord in less than a year.

I am always optimistic, because at the end we will ultimately reach agreement. But I reaffirm we will not accept a partial agreement,

I am ready to meet him as soon as possible and I hope to sit round the negotiating table immediately.

fully accounted for and used in the way it was intended.

From today we will not allow armed chaos, the taking of the law into individual hands, or attacks on public property.

for the sake of peace and the future of both peoples and the region.

Today is the beginning of the fishermen's journey to Jerusalem,

There is a difficult mission ahead -- to build our state, to achieve security for our people, to provide a good life for our people, to give our prisoners freedom, our fugitives a life in dignity, to reach our goal of an independent state,

We are fully aware that the movement of finance is now globally subject to many inspections. I don't think the world can allow the entry of this type of money.

Today is a day of joy and happiness that our people were deprived of in the past century.

Today, I'm going to call the designated prime minister, we are going to see the formation of this government.

The PA Interior Ministry is playing the role of the

We are going to reactivate the role of the PLO.

It is absolutely unacceptable for the border to be stormed, ... We must resolve this problem in a civilized manner.

it is against our interests and it only increases the violence in this region.

lack of support for the government's policies; harsh and dangerous domestic incitement against the government and the obstruction of its functions, and unjustified accusations that the government and the prime minister had the motive of either having control over everything or nothing.

I think that we are able to put all these ideas together and finalize them soon,

It is necessary to deal with the party who is responsible for the planning,

It is necessary for everyone to be committed to a calm agreement.

I will be able to control the chaos in Gaza.

I think they are now responsible, and in order to assume responsibilities, their policies have to be compatible with international polices.

It is a requirement to ensure that the withdrawal will take place in a civilized manner so that we can show the world we deserve our freedom and independence.

It is an important day in our people's history in Gaza Strip and northern West Bank, where all settlements will be removed out of our lands forever,

Our capital will be Jerusalem, and our state will not contain settlements.

Peace and security cannot be guaranteed by the construction of walls, by the erection of checkpoints and the confiscation of land, but rather by the recognition of rights.

spending time and energies to move the process forward.

I tell you, frankly, we have a historical opportunity that hinges on our good performance. Today there is no room for personal agendas,

My brothers, we are living these days in historical joy, a great joy, with the dismantling of settlements out of the Gaza Strip,

We have one law for everyone and no one is above the law. We are not going to tolerate chaos after today.

We hope that we can reach a satisfactory solution for us, because it's important to have full freedom for people to come in and out, ... This subject is under serious discussion, but there is no agreement at this time ... We hope that we can reach solutions for all the crossings very soon.

We have taken active steps in imposing the rule of law and public order and ban armed demonstrations,

We have to reach the moment when the vision of President Bush to have two states for the Israelis and the Palestinians is implemented.

We have agreed with Prime Minister Sharon to cease all violence against the Israelis and against the Palestinians, wherever they are,

Voting is the right of every citizen. It's a national obligation because the results of the election should reflect a truthful expression of all Palestinians.

We know there are some groups that want to harm us.

We have an opportunity and it would be irresponsible if we, the Israelis, or the world allow it to slip away,

We are watching with great worry at what might happen if he is harmed.

We are in real financial crisis. We hope we can overcome it month by month.

Unfortunately, the pressures have begun and the support and the aid started to decrease ... therefore, we are currently in a real financial crisis.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) they will start leaving part of the West Bank.

Tomorrow they will start leaving part of the West Bank. It's a beginning of the full withdrawal from all the settlements. We will not close our eyes. We will not rest until they leave from all our land.

We recognize that Palestinians need help in consolidating security forces and training security forces that would defeat the terrorists that would like to stop the march of freedom.

This subject is under serious discussion, but there is no agreement at this time ... We hope that we can reach solutions for all the crossings very soon.

Today we are getting part of the payoff of your sacrifice, by seeing the last settlers leaving Gaza. The credit for the evacuation is for you and for the martyrs who sacrificed themselves and gave their lives for the homeland.

Today we are getting part of the payoff, of your sacrifice, by seeing the last settlers leaving Gaza. The credit for the evacuation is for you and for the martyrs who sacrificed themselves and gave their lives for the homeland.

We want to be prepared for this mission,

We should let them go peacefully in order not to give them any reason to delay the evacuation.

We condemn this action and repeat that the extremist forces are still intent to destroy any efforts toward peace.

We condemn such actions and demand the Israelis stop these acts especially given the fact that all the factions here have recommitted to calm and to ending displays of weaponry in the streets,

We are coming into a new phase. In this phase, we are calling for the international community to help us return to the negotiating table with the Israelis, conclude the peace process and implement it.

This will be a prerequisite to ensure that the withdrawal will take place in a civilized manner, ... We'll be able to show the world that we deserve our independence and our freedom. We have no other choice.

There have been some mistakes due to the feeling of joy,

Why assume that there will be crisis? Let us resort to dialogue. Everything comes through dialogue.

We are so happy with this election festival. So far, it's going very well and we hope it will keep going well until the end without any troubles.

We are so happy with this election festival.

We believe maximum effort must be exerted by both sides to maintain the truce because it's in everybody's interest,

The parliamentary election will take place in all of the homeland districts on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006,

There are lands in eastern and northern Gaza still under occupation, ... There are differences and agreements over borders.

What's important is that we go through the election process first united but also...with sportsmanship and a spirit of transparency and fairness so that we can achieve the true democracy that we all want.

We must all be responsible and guard the land and the property because it will leave the impression on the world that we are cultured and deserve a state,

We are embarking on a new era, and we call on the international community to help us return to the negotiating table with the Israelis, to conclude a peace agreement and implement it.

fire all directors of the security services who failed to fulfill their duties.

We need to renegotiate the details and get back to the real border,

While we are happy the Israelis have left Gaza ... we really have no hope for the future here in the West Bank,

We all agree that Jerusalem should be included in the elections. If it is not included, all the factions agree there should be no elections.