On March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here’s what he said:

“The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese.

Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.”

Other Arab leaders

"There is no such country as Palestine. Palestine is a Zionist invention” Awni Bey Abdul Hadi, an Arab leader, Jerusalem, 1937.

"There is no such thing as 'Palestine' in history, absolutely not.” Prof. Philip K. Hitti, distinguished Arab historian, author of the authoritative book "The Arabs", 1946.

"Such a creature as Palestine does not exist at all.” Ahmad Shukeiri, secretary of the League of Arab Countries, 1956.

"A state named ‘Palestine’ has never existed.” Hafez al-Assad, President of Syria, at a conference in Amman in 1987.

"Brothers, half the Palestinians are Egyptians, the other half are Arabs" (i.e. from the Arab peninsula/KSA). Hamas Minister of Interior, Fathi Hammad, in an interview on Egyptian Al-Helma TV, 23 March 2012.