Israel, U.S. voice concern over Abbas withdrawal
Peres urges Abbas to stay in office, says Palestinians could lose their chance for an independent state.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Mahmoud Abbas Barack Obama Israel newsIsraeli and American officials expressed concern over Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's announcement on Thursday that he will not be running for reelection in January.
President Shimon Peres telephoned Abbas on Wednesday night in an effort to persuade the Palestinian leader to change his mind. Peres told Abbas that he was worried that the decision would trigger political crisis in the Palestinian Authority, leading to a Hamas takeover in the West Bank.
"If you leave the Palestinians would lose their chance for an independent state," Peres told Abbas. "The situation in the region would deteriorate. Stay, for the Palestinian people's sake," he said.
Aides to Benjamin Netanyahu refused to comment on Abbas' statement, but the prime minister has reportedly said in private meetings recently that it was in Israel's interest to have a strong Abbas who could advance the peace process. Netanyahu made similar statements to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a week ago, saying that it was in Israel's interest to strengthen Abbas as much as possible.
"Of the existing alternatives, if we want an agreement with the Palestinians then Abbas is the best partner," Netanyahu said a few days ago.
He said he was serious about the peace process with the Palestinians and was ready to take risks to advance peace, despite the PA leadership's impression to the contrary.
"The best partner is Abbas, but any Israeli intervention in internal Palestinian politics would only do harm," Netanyahu said. Defense Minister Ehud Barak added that he hoped Abbas' reluctance to run for reelection would not damage the attempt to resume the peace process.
"It's important for both sides to adhere to the principle of negotiating to advance an arrangement," Barak said in a statement. "I suggest making every effort to reach a two-state-for-two-peoples arrangement, while preserving Israel's security interests," he said.
A senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously about the possibility of Abbas disappearing from the political scene, said, "There's a real crisis situation in the PA." Clinton asked Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday and Arab foreign ministers she met in Morocco two days earlier to urge Abbas to remain in office and run for reelection.
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If Abbas backs down on settlements, then Hamas most likely gains more power but if he doesn't start peace talks soon he loses US support. The US to blame for alot of this for getting Abbas to stop Goldstone report and for sending mixed signals on Roadmap. Once US decide to follow Roadmap then they should have used full pressure, half measures only make bothsides argry and make US look weak. First with Israel to stop settlements then on Arabs to honor their part of Roadmap. Abbas is a weak leader but good politician, some of the better leaders are in Israeli jails for both PA and Hamas. Much of the Hamas leadership was arrested 3yrs ago and never charged, although many have been release in the last few weeks. Many people like one state option but in the long run it would destroy Israel, Zionist and Settlers only see the short term dream of a greater Israel and that their army can always win. Two thousand years ago Jews thought the same way but the cost was dear.
The price is well beyond what they are willing to pay. Abbas has done his best against determined Hamas and Israeli opposition, let someone else knock their head against the wall for a while.
Abbas has been too weak and soft. He gave everything the Israelis and Americans asked of him. Under him, there was unprecedented cooperation between the PA and the Israeli security services. There has not been a single attack inside of Israel from the West Bank in many years. And what did Abbas achieve in return for his people for all this cooperation? NOTHING except a record number of new Jewish settlements throughout the West Bank. For all his weakness and concessions, Abbas achieved nothing for his people. Its time for a strong Palestinian leader to step forward who is willing to stand up to the Israelis and Americans.
Israeli greed for stolen land will backfire. The Israeli's now own 5 Million Palestinians, future voters in the new state of Palestine-Israel, 2 States, 1 Country.
for a change. Go for it, Abbas!
First, you know Israeli intelligence knew this before the AP got the story of it. If the current government of Israel or the US cared, they wouldn't have pushed Abbas into suicidal behavior in favor of Israel. We all know about the UN maneuverings. Clinton/Obama's settlement reversal was merely a nail in the coffin. It would be interesting to know what the coalition government is 'really' saying in private. Why should they care, they are getting everything they want?
the last of the terror puppets
It nice to have someone excited about endless negotiations...what will they do? Drop the two state pretense?
.
Boo hoo. Now that he's going, having been ignored and humiliated by guess who, they want him back! Not for the first time has Israel missed an opportunity to miss an, etc, as the saying goes. If the government were even vaguely interested in two states, freezing the settlements would have been a cinch, not to mention a necessary first step. Are our leaders so full of the " show them how tough we are", that they forgotten that actions speak much louder than words?
Release him from jail, that would give Fatah, an alternative to Abbas. He is more popular, and has the respect of all parties involved in their politics. He can produce a peace deal with Israel.
Who else bends over backwards so easily and sells off the Palestinian people and their suffering? The actual fear is that the next leader of the Palestinians, unlike Abbas, may actually have a spine.
At age 74 with Netanyahu in office, what is the point of Abbas running for reelection, or just staying in office as the local Israeli strongman? Netanyahu has already made clear that there will be no Palestinian state that could possibly be independent or sovereign that will emerge while he is in office. Why should Abbas spend the money on a reelection bid? (Would Netanyahu even allow a contested election?) Why should he spend the time or energy. Let him be. Appoint your own military governor or viceroy. Israel is going to get the one state it's been aiming for, with a 5-million-strong-underclass not allowed to vote or own property.
Hamas, with instructor Iran, is in a better position to lead Palestinian people. It will also have the support of Lebenon and Syria. Jordan will also fall in (otherwise the consequences to Abdullah are too obvious). Abbas is good for Israel and US, but they take him for granted.