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Last update - 01:50 22/06/2009
Abbas, get off your high horse
By Akiva Eldar
Tags: israel news 

The "anger" of Mahmoud Abbas directed at Benjamin Netanyahu is tantamount to a child who threatens his parents that unless they buy him an ice cream, he won't go with them to the circus.

Who is being punished by his refusal to enter negotiations? The prime minister, who is biting his nails at the possibility of a Palestinian state being established? Who does he think he is scaring? Barack Obama, whose constituency doesn't know the difference between Kiryat Shmona and Kiryat Arba? Does Abbas really believe that Obama will do all the work for him, while he, as president of a future Palestine, goes on trips around the world?

A single Obama speech, even before the U.S. president even hinted at the possibility of sanctions, managed to wiggle out of Netanyahu the words "two-state solution." After 16 years during which the United States ignored the explosion of construction in the settlements, a right-wing government is bargaining over "natural growth."
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Has anyone heard recently about the E1 project near Ma'aleh Adumim, on the road to Jerusalem? Netanyahu's conditions on the demilitarization of the territories, the demand that Israel be recognized as the state of the Jewish people, and continued sovereignty over East Jerusalem are having no effect on Obama. The man who said his experience as a community organizer shaped him has adopted the principles of community work on a global scale: identifying positive elements, cooperation and mediation. All this while granting everyone a place in the talks without being overly judgmental.

The most important achievement from his point of view is that henceforth dialogue with the right-wing government will not begin with a discussion on the idea of establishing a Palestinian state, but rather about its borders, security and relations with neighboring countries.

Obama's stance on all these issues is a lot closer to Palestinian expectations than Israeli demands: the Green Line is the key to the permanent border, the United States supports the deployment of a multinational force in the territories, it does not attribute any importance to how an independent state is defined by its neighbor and considers East Jerusalem occupied territory that must be divided in a fair manner between Israel and Palestine.

However, as long as Abbas boycotts the peace process, Obama is prevented from exposing his substantive differences with Netanyahu. The burden of proof, therefore, has made its way back to the Palestinians, and Benny Begin can stay in the government and remain loyal to his oath that he will not be part of a coalition that contributes to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Without risking excessive exaggeration we can say that global and regional conditions have never been better for the success of the Palestinian struggle for independence. Obama's hand extended to the Muslim world and the Iranian regime's harsh response toward the crowds of demonstrators have created a favorable climate for pragmatic forces in the Arab world. They have also spread confusion in the opposing camp, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has recognized the importance of the moment. In a rare article published this week in the Wall Street Journal, he repeats the Arab League's offer for "full normalization" of relations with Israel, which will be an inseparable part of a peace agreement with Syria and Lebanon, as well as the Palestinians. Mubarak adds that the Arab world is willing to reward the Netanyahu government for serious steps toward peace.

The determination that Obama has exhibited regarding the two-state solution and halting settlement construction has signaled to Europe that it can also pressure Israel. The decision to freeze the upgrading of ties with Israel, until there is evidence of progress on the political front and the settlements, is just the beginning. Substantive change will happen in the European Union after the lenient Czechs pass on the EU presidency to the Swedes. The United Nations, the third party in the Quartet, has unfinished business with Israel. It was insulted by Israel's boycotting of the committee sent to investigate Operation Cast Lead and the ridicule that greeted UNRWA's grave reports on the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.

Even though Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks their language, his new/old claim that even before the settlements there had been terrorism did not budge the Russians from their stance on the occupation.

This reality may prove to be a passing phenomenon. If Abbas does not hurry toward Obama, Netanyahu will outmaneuver him.
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  1.   Green line not key and Abbas does not want peace 09:18  |  Baruch Gold 22/06/09
  2.   Such myopic nonsense. 09:34  |  Johnboy 22/06/09
  3.   The world is against Israel, and Eldar is happy 09:55  |  Boris 22/06/09
  4.   To-the-point and timely editorial...constructive... 10:12  |  Esther 22/06/09
  5.   Boris look at history 10:23  |  Truth 22/06/09
  6.   Eldar, get off your high horse 10:28  |  John Smith 22/06/09
  7.   Boris 10:44  |  TonyL 22/06/09
  8.   Obama is letting out the line---before the "snap". 11:15  |  Labhras 22/06/09
  9.   Obama is letting out the line---before the "snap". 11:16  |  rev always right 22/06/09
  10.   NOTHING New never missing about never missing an opportunity 11:30  |  PETER SM 22/06/09
  11.   Boris 11:40  |  A.M. 22/06/09
  12.   IS HE TALKING ABOUT ... 11:41  |  Zeev 22/06/09
  13.   Nonsense 11:52  |  Natallie Durson 22/06/09
  14.   #10 You really don`t get it, do you, PETER SM? 12:08  |  Johnboy 22/06/09
  15.   Lieberman in Moscow 12:09  |  Skandar 22/06/09
  16.   #8 labarse of arabia and more unsupported optimism 12:12  |  victor hardman 22/06/09
  17.   The Palestinians can`t even make peace with themselves 12:57  |  x-ray 22/06/09
  18.   Good article but how about # 2 and 8? 12:59  |  Hope 22/06/09
  19.   Akiva - DON`T LET ABAS MISS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY!!! 13:11  |  Dr Eric 22/06/09
  20.   You said Oldyd; now is the TIME 13:38  |  Abecassis 22/06/09
  21.   durson, Labhras and Johnboy think Palestinians are Israelis 14:12  |  Israeli citizen 22/06/09
  22.   NO JOHNBOY You refuse to see past the slogans even when the Arabs 14:28  |  PETER SM 22/06/09
  23.   Johnboy # 2 You`re In Fantasyland 14:43  |  Jeff Northridge 22/06/09
  24.   #13 nutullie and the world through the eye of a needle 15:14  |  vhardman 22/06/09
  25.   #21 And Israeli citizen seems to think.... 15:25  |  Johnboy 22/06/09
  26.   Oabma is trapped in Iran, Who cares about the natural growth 16:20  |  arik 22/06/09
  27.   Dr Eric I agree with you but.... 16:29  |  arik 22/06/09
  28.   Before writing, read the Palestinian Chart 17:23  |  Merkava87 22/06/09
  29.   Johnboy # 2 You`re In Fantasyland (2nd try) 17:31  |  Jeff Northridge 22/06/09
  30.   Johnboy.... 18:02  |  Jennifer 22/06/09
  31.   vhardman #23, really nonsense! this is not an issue of semantics 18:10  |  Esther 22/06/09
  32.   rev always right and labhras 19:48  |  Connie 22/06/09
  33.   Esther # 31 What Are You Saying? (part 1) 20:19  |  Jeff Northridge 22/06/09
  34.   Esther # 31 What Are You Saying? (part 2) 21:06  |  Jeff Northridge 22/06/09
  35.   Palestinians never miss an opportunity, to miss an opportunity 21:42  |  Bill 22/06/09
  36.   I don`t agree with Eldar 21:50  |  Diane 22/06/09
  37.   V hardman 21:51  |  r cummings 22/06/09
  38.   Dr Eric 21:59  |  r cummings 22/06/09
  39.   Israeli citizen 22:09  |  r cummings 22/06/09
  40.   I think Obama has laid out the settlement freeze as 22:10  |  Diane 22/06/09
  41.   Cummings, I prefer Lieberman to all your internet arguments 22:31  |  Israeli citizen 22/06/09
  42.   #38 diane in the fast lane comes to a complete stop 22:35  |  v hardman 22/06/09
  43.   Read this to get an understanding of the trouble Netandyahu 22:38  |  Jane@amazon.com 22/06/09
  44.   # 33, 34 jeff 22:42  |  Axel 22/06/09
  45.   No mention of demand to flood Israel with millions of "refugees" 22:43  |  McQueen 22/06/09
  46.   Johnboy P1 22:47  |  TonyL 22/06/09
  47.   Cummings, I prefer Lieberman to all your internet arguments 22:47  |  Israeli citizen 22/06/09
  48.   Cummings, I prefer Lieberman to all your internet arguments 22:47  |  Israeli citizen 22/06/09
  49.   Johnboy P2 22:52  |  TonyL 22/06/09
  50.   My solution hate it or love it(part1) 22:55  |  ALF 22/06/09
  51.   part 2 my solutions 23:02  |  ALF 22/06/09
  52.   Skandar dont worry about Lieberman in the kremlin 23:05  |  ALF 22/06/09
  53.   3# Boris 23:10  |  ALF 22/06/09
  54.   If Abbas is upset about Cast Lead 23:14  |  ALF 22/06/09
  55.   Natural growth has been forgotten. THANKS IRAN! 23:15  |  4:20 22/06/09
  56.   NB:A NOTE OF REFERENCE FOR ISRAELIS AND PALLIES. 23:19  |  ALF 22/06/09
  57.   Jeff Northridge may have autism or ausburgers 23:21  |  Ibrahim 22/06/09
  58.   # 33 jeff 23:52  |  Axel 22/06/09
  59.   Abbas rejects 97% solution 23:54  |  sy 22/06/09
  60.   Diane P1 23:57  |  TonyL 22/06/09
  61.   Diane P2 00:05  |  TonyL 23/06/09
  62.   Read Tony Judt in Today`s NY Times 00:56  |  Binyamin 23/06/09
  63.   President Abbas 01:02  |  Nezam el Jenini 23/06/09
  64.   #30 Jennifer, something to consider 05:24  |  Mark B. 23/06/09
  65.   Arik, I Agree With You 08:39  |  Alan 23/06/09
  66.   Abbas Vs. NETANYAHU: We HAVEN`T Forgotten Who Had To Be Pushed!!! 10:01  |  U.S. Pal Defender 23/06/09
  67.   #23 Dream on, Jeff. 10:53  |  Johnboy 23/06/09
  68.   #30 Jennifer (2nd try) 10:56  |  Johnboy 23/06/09
  69.   #33 More Jeff-nonsense Part 1 15:50  |  Johnboy 23/06/09
  70.   #34 More Jeff-nonsense Part 2 15:58  |  Johnboy 23/06/09
  71.   #34 More Jeff-nonsense Part 3 16:04  |  Johnboy 23/06/09
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