Israel Matzav

'Palestinian' civil war watch: Abu Mazen isn't leaving

A good winter to all of you. For anyone wondering how an Orthodox Jew could be online on Simhat Torah - a day on which Jews around the world are prohibited from doing work (including being online), please go here. Our Simhat Torah was last night and earlier today.

It's been a while since we've heard from 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen. But the leader of the good terrorists from Fatah is in the news tonight. With his term of office scheduled to expire on January 9, Abu Mazen announced on Wednesday that he has no intention of leaving office - something that is sure to warm the cockles of the hearts of the bad terrorists from Hamas.

Palestinian Authority Preisdent Mahmoud Abbas said Monday he was not intending to step down from office when his term ends in January 2009, hinting also that he would run again for PA president in 2010.

"According to clause 34 of the Palestinian constitution, the elections for parliament and the presidency must take place concurrently," Abbas said. As Palestinian parliamentary elections are not due to take place before 2010, his statement indicates that he might remain in office until then.

"Every other step that would be made would be illegal," he told a local paper. "We have consulted six Egyptian legal experts and they all concurred that the elections must take place according to [Palestinian] law," he said. "I am ready for elections immediately. Today, tomorrow or even yesterday," he said.

Earlier, Abbas said Cairo sent all Palestinian factions the draft of an agreement expected to constitute the basis of a dialogue scheduled for November 9. The draft contains several articles, among which is the establishment of a national unity government until the parliamentary elections are due and also embedding Hamas within the PLO and reorganizing the Palestinian security network.

Something tells me that Hamas will not be so concerned with legal technicalities. It should be a hot winter in the 'Palestinian territories' come January. Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:51 PM