Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel on Friday of practicing "hideous policies of ethnic cleansing and organized terrorism" against Palestinians in his first public comments since meeting Tuesday with Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
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Abbas spoke on the 57th anniversary of the launch of the first attack on Israel by the ruling Fatah faction.
In his speech, the PA leader did not mention the meeting with Gantz, which was strongly condemned by several Palestinian factions and activists.
"The anniversary of the launch of our revolution comes under extremely critical and difficult circumstances due to the continuation of the heinous Israeli occupation, the escalation of its repressive practices and persecution of our people, the theft of our land and natural resources, the stifling of our economy, the withholding of our tax funds, and racial discrimination," said Mahmoud Abbas, according to The Jerusalem Post.
He praised the Palestinian security prisoners held in Israeli jails for their "sacrifices and patience," stressing that the Palestinian government will not "abandon them or their families."
He also praised the "heroes of the popular resistance."
i24NEWS contributed to this report
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