Tornado Alley (PROG)

[fuagf]

Rosner's Domain: Should Abbas stay or go?
SHMUEL ROSNERT ..Oct 08, 2009

Rami Khouri writes:

Abbas' weakness, like Arafat's before him in the latter's last decade of life, has been an infatuation with two elements that are addictive but nonproductive: the trappings of power, privilege and incumbency; and a direct line to the American president. Both of these are enticing elements, but they lead to a situation of total powerlessness of the Palestinian leadership and equally severe marginalization of the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian presidency has become an international embarrassment. It generates no respect among the four principal constituencies where it should matter: the Palestinian people, the Israeli people and government, the Arab people and governments, and the rest of the world. It is shocking - unbelievable, in fact - that Abbas should have totally wasted away the last bits of credibility and respect that Yasser Arafat had left him.

Therefore...

He should act with honor and confidence by stepping down as Palestinian president, calling a new election to bring in a more legitimate and capable leadership, and focusing his energy on where he started his days decades ago when he still had credibility and courage - by reconstituting the PLO as the coordinating body for all Palestinians.

This makes life more complicated for Abbas, but will also make it more complicated for Netanyahu,
as it will force the US into putting some pressure on Israel to save the Palestinian President:

In response to the question of Abbas' current power and ability to yield results, Mitchell's aides said the Palestinian president is not too weak and that the Palestinian Authority is a partner for talks with Israel.

Will pressure on Netanyahu really save him? (one should also ask: is it worth saving him) - it's too early to predict. But an American rescue mission will definitely expose him to another round of Khouri-like allegations of being "too close" to the US administration (or, as harsher critics make sure to call him, "the American puppet Mahmoud Abbas").

http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/rosner/entry/should_abbas_stay_or_go