Mahmoud Abbas

Mahmoud Abbas (born March 26, 1935), commonly known as Abu Mazen (ابو مازن), was elected President (Ra'ees) of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on January 9, 2005 and took office on January 15, 2005.

Sourced

• The little jihad is over, and now we have the bigger jihad - the bigger battle is achieving security and economic growth
  • After Withdrawal, Palestinians Shift Focus to the Economy by Gil Sedanhttp://www.jewishexponent.com/ViewArticle.asp?ArtID=749

• From here [the Gaza withdrawal], our people begin the march towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital
  • Gaza boats mass to mark pullouthttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4147354.stm

• This is a deal reached between Sharon and Bush. We knew nothing about it. It shocked us.
  • On the Gaza withdrawal

• Of course we need dialogue with Hamas and [Islamic] Jihad. I believe that we can reach an understanding.
  • On the Gaza withdrawal

• We have at least 12 security apparatuses that cannot be controlled by anybody.

• I don't have any relationship with the chairman from the resignation to this day.

• I simply want tomorrow to be better than today. I want Palestine to be independent and sovereign... Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5370628.stm

Attributed

• There is absolutely no substitution for dialogue.
  • 2003

• Today we are visitors to the airport, tomorrow we will come here as travellers.
  • 19 August 2005
  • Regarding the Yaser Arafat International Airport