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Last update - 22:56 26/10/2009
Abbas to Obama: I'll quit, there's no chance for peace with Netanyahu
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News, Mahmoud Abbas 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. President Barack Obama that he intends to resign his post, Channel 10 television reported on Monday.

According to the report, the Palestinian leader told Obama during a telephone conversation last week that he sees no chance of advancing the peace process with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power.

Channel 10 also reported that Abbas communicated to the White House his disappointment in the administration's "capitulation" to Jerusalem on the issue of West Bank settlement construction.
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The Palestinians are demanding a cessation of Israeli settlement activity as a precondition to the resumption of peace negotiations.

While the Netanyahu government has committed to not building any new settlements, it has balked at a total freeze which would stunt "natural growth" in existing settlements which Israel plans to annex in any final status accommodation with the Palestinians.

The U.S. and Israel are currently holding talks in hopes of reaching a compromise on the issue.

According to Channel 10, Abbas told the White House that the Palestinian Authority's initial decision to defer a vote on the Goldstone Report at the United Nations Human Rights Council was politically damaging.

The Palestinian Authority agreed to delay debating the report over concerns that going ahead could harm the fragile Middle East peace process. The decision led to street protests by Palestinians and condemnation around the Arab world.

In recent days, Abbas has sent a number of blunt, unequivocal messages to the White House, Channel 10 reported. According to information which reached Israeli officials, Abbas told the U.S. president that he will not stand for re-election as Palestinian Authority president given the diplomatic stalemate with Israel.

Abbas called on Friday for presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 24, in a bid to regain dominance of the badly divided Palestinian movement and sideline his Islamist rivals, Hamas.

According to Channel 10, Abbas also told the Americans that he sees no possibility that his Fatah faction, which currently rules the West Bank, can reach a reconciliation agreement with Hamas, the Islamist group which ousted Fatah in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas and Fatah are currently in the midst of Egyptian-mediated reconciliation talks.

In response to the report, a senior Netanyahu aide told Channel 10: "Netanyahu carried out a number of steps in order to renew the peace process, as the American administration is fully aware. The prime minister called on the Palestinians to renew negotiations immediately and without preconditions."

"In contrast to the prime minister, the Palestinians are assuming a tougher stance and are placing preconditions before negotiations that they did not demand of previous [Israeli] governments," the source told Channel 10. "It is a shame that their transparent political maneuvers are casting a pall over the peace process."

Earlier Monday, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat blamed Israel for the impasse. Erekat urged Washington to also find fault with Israel.

"The gap is still wide and Israel does not give a single sign of meeting its obligations under the road map, halting settlement activities and resuming negotiations where they left off," he told Voice of Palestine radio.

"I do not see any possibility for restarting peace talks in the near future," Erekat said.

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      1.   Bye, bye! 20:13  |  Wise Saba 26/10/09
      2.   LITTLE CRYBABY 20:18  |  Brant 26/10/09
      3.   Right he is. 20:19  |  Axel 26/10/09
      4.   Enough support for Israel 20:23  |  Henry James 26/10/09
      5.   Well when your not even willing to talk to Israel... 20:24  |  ben 26/10/09
      6.   Ot azoi, cannot scare a porcupine by a naked butt 20:24  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 26/10/09
      7.   Obama, you folded - this is the consequence 20:25  |  David 26/10/09
      8.   Abbas 20:26  |  Col [Res] Cohen 26/10/09
      9.   ABBAS, yes please resign 20:31  |  Meir M 26/10/09
      10.   Erakat 20:38  |  Col [res] Cohen 26/10/09
      11.   There was no "preconditon" before Obama stuck in his nose 20:40  |  Charles Morgan 26/10/09
      12.   Israels Collosal Intransigence Seems to be Working 20:42  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/10/09
      13.   If you think Abbas leaving is good for Israel 20:44  |  Timor 26/10/09
      14.   Abass- hot air 20:46  |  Edifice 26/10/09
      15.   Israel Is Panting for Another Intifada 20:47  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/10/09
      16.   BLUFF! 20:50  |  woodah 26/10/09
      17.   `one state solution 20:51  |  fred 26/10/09
      18.   Israel`s stubborness has finally produced consequences. 20:53  |  wbc 26/10/09
      19.   #3 Absolutely right 21:02  |  Keith T. 26/10/09
      20.   I`m tired of this Game of Lies. Radical Muslims DON`T WANT peace. 21:04  |  Saul 26/10/09
      21.   Abbas now showed he has no responsibilty for his people 21:04  |  fo realz 26/10/09
      22.   ABBAS should resign 21:09  |  along with 26/10/09
      23.   It is best that you resign Mr. Abbas. 21:09  |  Lou Medel 26/10/09
      24.   Col (Res) Cohen Plays the Zionist Game 21:10  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/10/09
      25.   So Long 21:13  |  Zach 26/10/09
      26.   ABSOLUTELY 21:14  |  there should be NO 26/10/09
      27.   What does Israel have to gain from a deal with "Palestinians"? 21:15  |  Chaim 26/10/09
      28.   Tell the Jewish people, Mr. Abbas, what peace you are offering? 21:16  |  Sam 26/10/09
      29.   Good, now the US should 21:22  |  bob 26/10/09
      30.   Abbas Will Resign 21:30  |  Proud Israeli 26/10/09
      31.   Abbas 21:33  |  Lee 26/10/09
      32.   Threatens to resign every year 21:39  |  Gershon 26/10/09
      33.   axel 21:41  |  Stephanie 26/10/09
      34.   Sam, The Arabs Have Been Clear on This 21:41  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/10/09
      35.   It`s Not Just Israel`s Fault... 21:41  |  Yosemite 26/10/09
      36.   Resuming negotions where they left off 21:42  |  Gershon 26/10/09
      37.   Or bye bye miss Abas Pie... 21:43  |  Ron 26/10/09
      38.   Abbas finally takes a stand and does something right 21:45  |  Natallie Durson 26/10/09
      39.   Well the US wants Salam Fayyad so they are happy 21:47  |  Justine Effort 26/10/09
      40.   The "axes" Israel/U.S. will destroy the very last moderate..... 21:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/10/09
      41.   Abbas is weak and cannot deliver 21:50  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 26/10/09
      42.   Obama and Abbas 21:52  |  Lee M. 26/10/09
      43.   All because of Obamas smart ass cocky attitude upon taking office 21:54  |  Jew 26/10/09
      44.   #4 Henry James 21:54  |  Freddy 26/10/09
      45.   Who cares? 22:00  |  Levi 26/10/09
      46.   to wbc -- I Wish! 22:01  |  edgar 26/10/09
      47.   "Yaakov Sullivan" - Panting for another Intifadah 22:03  |  Brad 26/10/09
      48.   Charles Morgan, the colonies are illegal... 22:03  |  BBSNews 26/10/09
      49.   Quisling would like to exit with the appearance of honor 22:04  |  Victor 26/10/09
      50.   wbc: Israel`s Stubborness 22:04  |  Brad 26/10/09
      51.   Celebrating Higher Taxes 22:07  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/10/09
      52.   Abbas is right 22:10  |  Richard Witty 26/10/09
      53.   Abbas isn`t even the Real Palestinian Leader, Hamas is 22:12  |  Marc Leb 26/10/09
      54.   Confused, incompetent BHO encourages Abbas tantrum. 22:13  |  common sense 26/10/09
      55.   I`m gonna take my toys home and won`t play anymore! 22:14  |  just like a child? 26/10/09
      56.   Abbas has been a collaborator 22:16  |  Janice 26/10/09
      57.   Not worth shedding tears if Abbas resigned ! 22:17  |  Akram Zekatia 26/10/09
      58.   Best news I have seen in a long while 22:23  |  Joe 26/10/09
      59.   You alienated a moderate Palestinian! 22:27  |  Ramzi Jaber 26/10/09
      60.   To:#17 22:27  |  True Palestinian 26/10/09
      61.   Yaacov Sullivan- The number one thing Jews want to hear 22:30  |  Sam 26/10/09
      62.   to Keith t (19) 22:36  |  tiki Belgium 26/10/09
      63.   I`ll believe it when I see it. 22:36  |  Phillip 26/10/09
      64.   GOOD FOR HIM 22:37  |  EL 26/10/09
      65.   Henry James 22:39  |  Michelle 26/10/09
      66.   STUPID ISRAEL 22:40  |  dave austin 26/10/09
      67.   BBS, Yaakov & Associates: if you do not want to be ridiculed agai 22:45  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 26/10/09
      68.   Yaakov For that To Happen Please Explain 22:45  |  Eli 26/10/09
      69.   BSNews, the Palestinians` real estate agent 22:47  |  SDHD 26/10/09
      70.   # 1 says it all 22:47  |  One 26/10/09
      71.   Good on you Bibi 22:48  |  Michelle 26/10/09
      72.   Israel chooses Settlements over Peace 22:50  |  Jeff 26/10/09
      73.   It is sad... 22:53  |  Frank 26/10/09
      74.   Abbas/Palestinians rightfully Fed Up 22:54  |  Adam 26/10/09
      75.   The `precondition` in this case is... 22:55  |  Colin Wright 26/10/09
      76.   GOOD RIDDANCE TO PUPPET ABBAS 23:00  |  Fadi 26/10/09
      77.   Best news I have seen in a long while 23:02  |  Joe 26/10/09
      78.   Road Map 23:04  |  Dave Duncan 26/10/09
      79.   Obama`s strategic bungle 23:07  |  David 26/10/09
      80.   37~ Nathallie Durson. Abbas was a missed opportunity ... 23:11  |  Akram Zekatia 26/10/09
      81.   Yaakov Sullivan 23:12  |  Emanuel 26/10/09
      82.   ABBAS before you resign of your office 23:27  |  Gil 26/10/09
      83.   Resign or not is irrelevant.... 23:46  |  Malone 26/10/09
      84.   Advice to the Palestinians 23:48  |  Albrecht Klein 26/10/09
      85.   Its the eleventh time Abbas has threatened to quit in 5 years 23:53  |  Wasim Ali 26/10/09
      86.   Bibi 00:03  |  Chad R. 27/10/09
      87.   SULLIVAN ON PLAYING "CARDS" 00:09  |  Brant 27/10/09
      88.   Abbas Has Totally Misread America 00:19  |  John Q. Public 27/10/09
      89.   A NEW PALESTINIAN LEADER (For Darth Zeider (Ed) # 6) 00:21  |  Fortuna Benmayor 27/10/09
      90.   Freddy: US$ = Israel = US Arms Mfg 00:27  |  Dean Blake 27/10/09
      91.   #3 Axel, Leaders with leadership qualities do not quit if another 01:07  |  Canadian Historian 27/10/09
      92.   no chance 01:21  |  Shmuelshachor 27/10/09
      93.   Abbas is a lame duck who is finished anyway 01:27  |  zionist forever 27/10/09
      94.   Yaakov 01:34  |  Brad 27/10/09
      95.   67 01:38  |  zionst forever 27/10/09
      96.   Israel must have been reasonable to drive Abbas to such extremes 01:42  |  bronxite10 27/10/09
      97.   Mr. Sullivan 01:47  |  Ron 27/10/09
      98.   President Abbas 02:22  |  Dudka 27/10/09
      99.   Palestinian state or Israeli citizenship 02:28  |  Palestinian 27/10/09
      100.   No chance for peace with Netanyahu 02:30  |  Hugh 27/10/09
      101.   Double capitulation 02:37  |  Bruce 27/10/09
      102.   #61, Frank, some German history 02:57  |  Bruce 27/10/09
      103.   PLO has not changed one bit 04:32  |  Baruch Gold 27/10/09
      104.   He is good for WB Palestinian! 06:27  |  peace on earth 27/10/09
      105.   Abbas lost his street cred over Goldstone, so he`s out. 08:22  |  Jason 27/10/09
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