Not a single mainstream wire service is telling the truth about the speech Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas gave yesterday in Ramallah.

As reported by the Jerusalem Post, Abbas explicitly called for Palestinian weapons to be used against Israel. Here’s what he said:

“When Fatah was established, it was accused of treason and we were chased in every place,” Abbas told the crowd. “But with the will and determination of its sons, Fatah has and will continue. We will not give up our principles and we have said that rifles should be directed against the occupation.”

Appealing to Palestinians to avoid civil war, Abbas said: “We are all one people regardless of differences of opinion. My top priority is to preserve national unity because Palestinian infighting and blood are a red line that must not be crossed.”

Defending his call to use weapons against Israel, he added: “We have a legitimate right to direct our guns against Israeli occupation. It is forbidden to use these guns against Palestinians. The occupation has perpetrated brutal attacks in Jenin, Bet Hanun and Ramallah.”

But none of the wire services have reported these statements.

Instead, the universal slant is that Abbas issued a call for “peaceful dialog.” Here’s another example from AFP: Abbas determined to prevent further internal clashes with Hamas.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas assured tens of thousands of supporters that he was determined to prevent further factional clashes with rival Hamas after weeks of internecine bloodshed.

“Preserving national unity and preventing internal clashes is our priority,” Abbas told a crowd of flag-waving, chanting supporters of his Fatah party in central Ramallah.

“Spilling Palestinian blood is a red line that should not be crossed and those who do so are criminals,” he said, a white and black traditional keffiyeh scarf wrapped around his neck.

“The sole language that should prevail is dialogue,” he said.