Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he opposes violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Photo: Wikipedia.

JNS.org – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday told Kuwaiti Scoop TV that he opposes violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is interested in negotiating directly with Israeli leaders.

“I will not enter a violent struggle. I will not ruin my people and my country. I will fight in the political field to reach my goal. I will never permit violent struggle against Israel and I am determined to prevent anyone from using weapons,” Abbas said in an interview conducted at his office in Ramallah.

Abbas admitted that the violence of the Palestinians’ second intifada (uprising) from 2000-2005 “ruined the country” and only gave the world “legitimacy to attack Palestinians.”

Despite Abbas’s disavowal of violence on Kuwaiti Scoop TV, Palestinian Media Watch has long documented how official radio and television stations from the PA as well as the Abbas-led Fatah faction consistently publish or air statements from Abbas and other Palestinian leaders declaring their support for violence against Israelis.