Hours after threatening to replace Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas if the latter proves not interested in negotiating, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman backed away from his comments by saying that the US “is not seeking to replace Mr. Abbas,” adding that, “It is for the Palestinian people to choose its leadership.”
Following his comments, the US envoy was subject to an unprecedented verbal attack from Palestinian officials.
Friedman said he was misquoted when he told the weekly religious-Zionist newspaper Shevi’I, “If Abu Mazen is not interested in negotiating, I am sure that someone else will want to.”
The Ambassador had also said that, “if Abbas creates a vacuum, I am convinced that someone else will fill it, and then we will move forward [with the peace process].”
Friedman’s comments are considered the strongest against the Palestinian President since the deterioration of US-Palestinian relations, and they came to improve Palestinian accusations that the US was seeking to replace the current leadership.
On Thursday, Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh described Friedman’s statements as “blatant and unacceptable interference in internal Palestinian affairs.”
He said the Palestinian people would not allow any foreign party, regardless of who that party is, to decide its fate.
"It seems that Friedman speaks on behalf of Israel more than he speaks for the United State, and appoints himself as defender of Israel and the settlers,” the spokesman said.
Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of the PLO’s Executive Committee said on Thursday, “There is no doubt that Mr. Friedman's behavior and statements are irresponsible and solely guided to advance Israeli colonialism, an enterprise that he has been personally committed to as one of its funders.”
Meanwhile, Fatah, of which Abbas is the leader, said in a statement “Friedman's remarks will galvanize Palestinians against the American plan to terminate the Palestinian cause.”
