Israel Matzav

Abu Bluff to remain President for a long time

Well, he was bluffing after all. 'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen said that he won't run for 'Palestinian' President again, but there may not be a 'Palestinian' 'election' any time soon. Abu Bluff will remain President.

Palestinian analysts as well as senior Palestinian Authority and Fatah officials believe that so long as Fatah and Hamas do not reconcile, the presidential and parliamentary elections Abbas called for January 24, 2010 will be postponed indefinitely.

This is partly due to Hamas' refusal to hold elections in Gaza, and the problems that would arise from holding elections in the West Bank alone. Another issue in question is whether East Jerusalem would participate in the elections.

Additionally, Fatah is currently refusing to name a candidate to take Abbas' place. Senior Fatah officials say they expect Abbas to retract his statement and run for reelection, and that they hope his announcement will increase pressure on the U.S. administration to help Abbas do so.

The officials expect the U.S. administration to announce that East Jerusalem will be the capital of a future Palestinian state, and to stop trying to force Abbas to forgo his preconditions for returning to negotiations with Israel - that Israel freeze construction in the settlements.

Abu Bluff is acting like a spoiled child whose toys were taken away. On Sunday, he complained that Israel 'doesn't want peace' and vowed that the 'Palestinians' would not make any more concessions. Funny, I can't think of any they've made until now.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:59 AM