Rally Behind Palestine's Abbas, Israel's Best Hope

by Daniel J Gerstle · 2009-11-08 14:37:00 UTC
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Palestinian President Mahmoud "Abu Mazen" Abbas has reached the apex of his value to the Middle East peace process. He knows it and he's betting everything he has. By threatening to quit.

This week Abbas, the moderate Fatah party candidate who succeeded Yassir Arafat as head of the Palestinian authority in 2004 and is the US government's most consistent partner in the West Bank, has announced that largely due to Israel's persistent refusals to halt all construction in West Bank settlements, that he might not run for President in January. Say what?

From a pro-Israel viewpoint, this may appear like Abbas is playing a political game, bluffing, to try to earn concessions before potentially facing down a hardline, uncooperative Hamas about an alreadly delayed election. Probably true, and aggrevating. But given the alternative candidates available for the Palestinian presidency, this writer strongly encourages participants in the peace process to consider the advantages of conceding to Abbas' slightly painful demands versus losing him, and the peace process with him.

Even though militant Hamas which opposes Israel's existence may boycott the election, even the potential replacement candidates for Abbas in Fatah are risky. [For background and an election guide, see my second post today, "A Crash Course in Palestinian Presidential Politics."]

Consider joining me in calling on the Obama Administration, Secretary Clinton, and the Congressional Foreign Relations Committees through petitions from your workplaces or colleges to demonstrate to Israel how beneficial it can be to keep Abbas in the Presidency, the Palestinian election, and through that in the peace talks at least until a viable alternative Fatah successor is found. Keep Abbas! As stone-like and intractable as some consider him, he's the best of available options for Palestine's future - and the least risky option for Israel's security.

[Photo: Election streamers in old town Nablus, West Bank, Daniel J Gerstle.]

Daniel J Gerstle is a journalist, human rights researcher, and humanitarian aid consultant. He is Editor and Chief Correspondent for HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine.
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