Israel Matzav

Abu Bluff threatens to resign if 'peace talks' fail

'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen is once again threatening to resign, this time claiming that he will resign if the 'direct talks' with Israel end in failure.

During a recent meeting of the Fatah Central Committee, Abbas declared: "I have made a decision and I will announce it at the appropriate time."

The official told the daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi that said that members of the committee understood Abbas's declaration as a new threat to resign.

Abbas has over the past few years repeatedly threatened to resign, each time for a different reason.

Asked what steps the Palestinian leadership would take when and if Abbas carries out his threat to quit, the PA official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the Fatah Central Council would then meet to elect one of its members as PA president.

He added that the PLO Executive Committee, another key decision-making body, would be asked to ratify the appointment of the new president.

The official also denied that the Palestinians were considering creating a new job - Vice President of the PA. He explained that such a move would require the Palestinian Legislative Council, which has been paralyzed for the past three years because of the split between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, to pass a law in this regard.

And of course, the 'Palestinians' are threatening to withdraw (thereby bringing about the talks' failure) if Israel does not extend the 'settlement freeze' at the end of the month. I think it's time to call his bluff. Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:25 AM