PA forces led the Intifada

Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi: “I was the head of the [General] Intelligence [Services], and in the West Bank was my brother Jibril Rajoub… Honored brother: The commanders of the security establishment, our officers and soldiers are the ones who led the Tunnel Intifada (i.e., the Western Wall Tunnel clashes – 3 days of Palestinian-Israeli fighting in September 1996). They are the ones who led the Al-Aqsa Intifada (i.e., PA terror campaign 2000-2005). Today, over 300 of them – officers and soldiers – are in jail. Some of them were sentenced to over 300 years, for example Muhammad [Naifeh] ‘Abu Rabia.’ All of the Security Forces headquarters were destroyed. We have between 250 and 300 Martyrs (Shahids) from among the commanders of the Security Forces… Even if they do give us a Palestinian state according to the 1967 borders, we will not, by any means, accept a Jewish state! No leader from Fatah or the Palestinian forces in the PLO will ever recognize Israel as a Jewish state. No way. This decision is final and not open for discussion, because if it does happen, it would endanger the entire Palestinian cause, whether regarding the refugee issue or our people in the 1948 territories (i.e., Israel).”

Note: Muhammad Naifeh ‘Abu Rabia’ – A senior member of the Tanzim (Fatah’s military wing), Naifeh was responsible for the murder of 13 Israelis in various terror attacks, some of which he carried out himself. He received 13 life sentences.