Abbas: Palestinians won't launch new intifada, despite frustration

Here is Ki'emli apparently accusing Abbas of insincerity because he supposedly did not dismantle militant groups. Israel has not been attacked by Palestinians from the West Bank for 5 years. Here is Ki'emli speaking on behalf of a country that has been occupying Palestinian territory for 42 years in violation of international law and UN resolutions for refusing to withdraw from that territory, built on that territory and annexed Jerusalem in violation of UN resolutions and articles of the 4th Geneva Convention, and is therefore in commission of a war crime and is imposing a blockade as collective punishment on a civilian population in violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention, and thus in commission of another war crime. That is the same Israel that built the security wall on Palestinian territory that has been declared illegal by the UN International Court of Justice. Real effort will be complying with international law.

You think the 1st and 2nd intifada werelaunched by a collborationist like Abu Mazen? Its funny to see you buying what he says, as if he is in charge, and funnier to see you declare victory.

Your post expresses just what I was thinking myself...!

Re: Abbas Quite obviously, you have recently had copious bowel movements, as indicated by the stench of the material you post on the talkback. If you can't offer something tangible and constructive, why comment at all?

To the the suicide bombings,the murder of the Joseph's tomb Rabbi,the desecration of that synagogue,the drive by shootings etc etc. It just so hapenned that funding was traced back to Arafat and one of the Al Aqsa martyrs admitted on the BBC that he was following orders from Arafat their leader. Keep censoring established facts.

To the the suicide bombings,the murder of the Joseph's tomb Rabbi,the desecration of that synagogue,the drive by shootings etc etc. It just so hapenned that funding was traced back to Arafat and one of the Al Aqsa martyrs admitted on the BBC that he was following orders from Arafat their leader. Keep censoring established facts.

"Palestinians" are not interested in peace because they still expect to take over Israel and expel all the Jews. These people are represented by groups which are internationally recognized terrorists. Islam is the enemy of western democracy, just as fascism is. Once, the Sudeten Germans were an "oppressed" minority in Czechoslovakia and would not live peacefully under the rule of the Czechs and Slovaks. The East Prussians of the Danzig Corridor would not live under the rule of the Poles. They both agitated and threatened their governments and contributed to the rise of Hitler and WW2. The "Palestinians" will not live under the rule of Israel, now or in the future. They need to be moved out of Gaza and west bank and into Jordan or whichever Muslim state is available. There are now no Sudeten Germans or East Prussian Germans. They lost the war and the land. Germany gave up its pretensions and accepted its fate. The "Palestinians" need to learn from Germany.

Time to listen to others who are whispering over throwing in the towel and demanding rights as equal citizens in exchange for equal responsibilities but agreeing to no right to return. It would be best for the Arabs. It is going to happen anyway down the road because Jordan isn't going to accept any solution where they are seen as helping Israel pick up the crumbs. Too many changes have occurred in just the last 10 years. The arguments are still the old canned ones, but the reality on the ground has changed and continues at quite a rapid pace. This isn't going to sound like a radical idea in the near future. You can count on it being quite familiar as the debate over the two state solution is today as opposed to 20 years ago.

You are trying to pick holes in one of the most sensible most level voices on Haarezt? The US is even calling for a FULL settlement freeze and Bibi is trying to haggle at this stage on something that is non-negotiable! To say that Israel is offering something is laudable. Move on!

Here is the first Pal leader who has stuck resolutely to peace as an objective - and negotiations as the way to achieve it. No WB attacks on Israel during his watch, his new forces have routed militants in 4 West Bank cities so far, his PM is developing the economy, law & order apparatus etc. Yet he is slammed by one side, which claims that mighty Israel imposed this docility by heroic force of arms (rubbish!). And he is slammed by the other side, which says he has not faced up to Israel and been militant enough (total dreamland given the meagre cards he holds!). That he is not, even now, despite all Bibi's provocations and procrastinations, letting civil resistance take over via an intifada, says a lot about the guy. He was Israel's best and probably last chance for a fair, negotiated solution. Unfortunately Bibi is neither reasonable nor fair, he is totally locked into the Greater Israel enterprise and ethnic gain. The 3rd intifada is coming as sure as the sun rises.

Esther is a Tel Avivian. No doubt she hangs out in Sheinkin Street cafes and moans with fellow leftists over the fact that Israel remains a Jewish country. In the meantime, can't somebody please offer Mr. Abbas some X-Lax? He looks like he hasn't had a good bowel movement in six months!

"... but what else can he do with so little support at home, and no consideration from Israel at all..." You mean, offering a partial settlement freeze (from Netanyahu of all people) is "no consideration from Israel at all?"

... but what else can he do with so little support at home, and no consideration from Israel at all... ... for his sake and ours, hope that the Shalit deal goes thru' on his watch, which would give all of us a huge humaniterian boost, and a chance to contemplate peace... ... historic justice would have his successor, Barghouti, freed just at this time...

Just because in November a man, who many soon be a former political leader, says there will not be an Intifada doesnt mean it's true. A lot can happen in a few months. I wouldn't rule it out.

He Has agreed that military force does quash Terorrist. I wonder what the Goldstone people would have to say about this? As well, wasn't there an article a week ago saying Abbas was telling Palestinians to take to an non-violent intifada. What happened to that as I do'nt think israel would start using extremem military force against Peaceful protesters who are not inside of a no go zone. Is it perhaps that Abbas felt that should he call for a non-violent intifada it would go violent quickly or that he thought that non violent means of protest would still receive violent responses? can anyone or Haaretz offer some details on this? alwayslearning@live.ca

On Sunday Hamas pledged that no further missiles would be fired into Israel. Yesterday one fell.

Isn't that heartwarming: no intifada III, because the Pals have "suffered too much". Not because there is something morally wrong and counterproductive about blowing up Israeli civilians in restaurants, cafes and discos.

If there is no change in the positions on the core issues then there will only be an interim quiet and the idea of peace negotiations is meaningless.It becomes just a necessary show for the benefit of the US and EU moneybags. There is no peace for Jews that doesn't leave Israel as a Jewish state. Palestinians and their supporters will know only frustration and disappointment if they can't internalize that.

Yeah, he made a big, concerted effort to open his mouth. I hope that the strain wasn't too much. Real effort will be in the dismantling of militant groups, as called for in Phase 1 of the Road Map.

Abbas knows what happened to the last intifada/terror wave leaders! Abbas values his skin too much to risk it for anything but his Swiss bank accounts!

Depends on the ideology. Israel doesn't NOT recognize the need for the Palestinians to live in dignity with their own state. How can there ever be a solution when the same ideology is not true for the Palestinians? Macho strength, histrionics, hype, are not the deciding factors to the problem. Intentions are the key to the solution.

the "won't" is really a "can't" b/c Israel's security is so tight, he hasn't the means, access, availability to launch it, but the will, desire or promise to find a way has never changed

Now if only that double-dealing Nuttanyahoo could get with the program. Then maybe Israel might move closer to knowing real peace. That is if they're interested.

Netenyahu's ultimate choices seem to be between a two state solution and a one state solution. He probably understands the ramifications of the choice even if his religious right supporters do not put much stock in reality based considerations.

I still say the intifada started last year, it may look different,to ones of the past, but it is an intifada none the less. Good tactic to deny it is occurring, and distance the PA from it. As it appears that you are not in control of it. It is a low intensity destabilization campaign at this stage.

I am a Palestinian, and this Abbas has brought nothing to us but shame. Everyone should know why Fatah lost in the elections, it is because their leaders are week in spirit. Just like Israelis don't like weak leaders, Palestinians despise weak leaders. Abbas fights for money and Israel fights for an ideology, and whomever fights for ideology is stronger. So we will have to suffer, until those who fight for ideology amongst us come back to the leadership, shame to Abbas

I understand. Mr. Abbas has become a failure because he has been sincere in his pursuit of peace. He has not had a 'partner in peace' and he has become totally discredited. It will be the young men of Palestine who will, or will not, lash out in another inftifada. His hopes and wishes have failed them. I hope that Mr. Abbas is right. I hope that his efforts will prevail and the young men of the doomed Palestinian nation will not fight to save their nation. But it is clear there is no hope for peace and young men in such situations often choose to fight rather than simply be crushed without lifting a finger to save their future and their families.

Cessation of rockets from Gaza. Israel won the war. Its time for peace and rebuilding.

When did the last intifada end? Arabs are still trying to hurt Jews. After Gaza War they are more quiet.

"Since then, Hamas has signaled willingness to curb cross-border Palestinian attacks. " Hamas was willing to curb their attacks prior to this, through a reciprocal agreement that saw the Gaza siege end. It was Israel who was unwilling to lift their barbaric siege, while also wanting to live without the consequence of that siege, continued resistance to it in the form of rocket fire. And to all you Israeli partisan whiners out there, the rocket fire has continued since the Gaza attack. The Gaza War did not bring an end to rocket fire, it's purported aim. Only an agreement with Hamas will see it end, just like how in the previous ceasefire rocket fire plummeted to sporadic levels while it progressed, even though Israel was failing to meet their terms of the ceasefire by lifting the blockade. You want peace, come to a reciprocal agreement with Hamas. More siege, more land theft, more oppression, more prisoners, more attacks, no peace. You just keep driving the Pals into the arms of Iran

Nothing else does. It has to be made clear that this will always be the case: Arab violence will mean Arab suffering- and much more than they can endure.

...but Abbas and the PA should then refrain from incendiary rhetoric that has been the prelude to intifadah's in the past, including bandying about the very term of "intifadah". Until the Palestinian Authority undoes the damage done by Arafat's careful cultivation of a parallel but uncontrolled milita stream to the oficial Palestinian national police forces, a future intifadah will repeat the unraveling of civil society under self-generating militia and militia-faction sectarian violence.