Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas concluded on Wednesday a rare visit to the West Bank city of Jenin, praising the steadfastness of Jenin camp in the face of Israeli aggression, and said that it has become an icon of struggle and challenge. Abbas's visit comes about 10 days after an Israeli military operation in Jenin was described as the most violent in 20 years.
During an inspection tour of the Jenin refugee camp yard, Abbas pledged immediate reconstruction of Jenin city and camp, and praised the sacrifices of residents, including those killed and injured as a result of the recent Israeli offensive.
He added that "the Jenin camp withstood the aggression and made sacrifices for the sake of the homeland, and we must challenge everyone who wants to defeat us and attack us, and we will remain in our country and will not leave until the occupation leaves our land."
The Palestinian president stressed adherence to East Jerusalem as the capital of the independent State of Palestine and the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their lands, and stressed the imposition of "one authority, one state, one law, and one security and stability," threatening that "anyone who tampered with our unity and security will only see what he does not like, and the hand that will extend to the unity, security and safety of the people will be cut from its roots."
Abbas arrived in the city of Jenin and its camp on Wednesday morning by Jordanian helicopter, and has not previously traveled to Jenin camp since assuming the presidency of the Authority in 2005, while his last visit to Jenin was 11 years ago.
The Jenin governorate announced the cancellation of a scheduled meeting between Abbas and representatives of popular and official events in the city, without explaining the reasons for this.
Abbas's visit comes a week after the Israeli occupation forces stormed Jenin camp, and the 48-hour operation resulted in the death of 12 Palestinians and the death of an occupation soldier and caused extensive destruction in the camp.
Abbas's visit to the camp, home to 18,3 people, also comes days after three senior PA officials were removed from a funeral, amid anger among crowds over the PA's reaction to the latest Israeli offensive.
Abbas usually does not make any visits to Palestinian cities, with the exception of Bethlehem, which he visits to participate in Christmas and meet with a number of leaders who visit the Church of the Nativity.