by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
From: Palestinian Media Watch

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday that the violence that occurred during Israel’s stopping of the Gaza flotilla was planned by Israel, was “premeditated and with determination to kill.”

He also used the opportunity to slander Israel saying:

“Israel always ignores all international norms, all international laws, all humanitarian laws. [Israel] doesn’t care about anything.”

Abbas also ignored the evidence of the planned and well coordinated attack by those on board:

“Those who came to Gaza are civilians, peace-seeking people, who did not come to attack.

Palestinian Media Watch reported in the last two days that participants on board were chanting Islamic battle cries and talking about their coming Martyrdom on the days before the confrontation.

The following was said by Mahmoud Abbas in a telephone interview from Amman with PA TV:

Host: “Mr. President [Abbas], this decision was made by the occupation’s [Israel’s] Minister of the Army, already yesterday. What is the significance of this decision?

Abbas:The significance is that this decision was made in advance. They [Israel] wanted to create a confrontation. They did not want to allow [the ships into Gaza], but were determined from the outset to create a confrontation. They had the opportunity yesterday to relate to these people peacefully, because those who came to Gaza are civilians, peace-seeking people, who did not come to attack. They did not come with weapons or with an army. They came with humanitarian aid. Therefore, it was a decision made in advance, premeditated and with determination to kill and to create a confrontation with these people, and to take them all to ports in Israel. Israel always ignores all international norms, all international laws, all humanitarian laws. [Israel] doesn’t care about anything.”

[PA TV (Fatah), May 31, 2010]