According to Abu Daoud , part of the funds raised by Abbas were used , without the latter 's knowledge , to implement the 1972 Munich massacre . He was among the first members of Fatah to call for talks with moderate Israelis , doing so in 1977 . In a 2012 interview , he recalled , " ... because we took up arms , we were in a position to put them down with credibility . " Abbas has performed diplomatic duties , presenting a moderating contrast to the PLO 's " revolutionary " policies . Abbas was the first PLO official to visit Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War in January 1993 to mend fences with the Gulf countries after the PLO 's support of Iraq during the Persian Gulf War strained relations . In the Oslo I Accord , Abbas was the signatory for the PLO on 13 September 1993 . He published a memoir , '' Through Secret Channels : The Road to Oslo '' ( 1995 )
Munich massacre
Munich massacre
Mahmoud Abbas