Israel Matzav

Looking for a ladder to climb down from that tree

'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen just might be looking for a way to climb down from that tree.

This report indicates an open feud between Hamas and Fatah over who will be appointed 'Prime Minister' of the 'Palestinian Authority.' It also has Abu Bluff offering to withdraw his application for unilateral 'statehood' at the United Nations if talks with Israel resume. Of course, Abu Bluff has been the one who was preventing talks from resuming until now, but ending his alliance with Hamas might help create the chance that such talks may yet take place.

Hamas on Tuesday denounced statements made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in an interview with Lebanese television in which he said that he has the right to choose the prime minister of the Palestinian unity government, specifically mentioning current PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad.

Fatah and Hamas's failure to agree on the identity of the new prime minister has led to the indefinite postponement of the establishment of the unity government. Fatah continues to insist on the appointment of Fayyad, while Hamas says it would never sit together with him in any government.

Hamas website Al-Qassam quoted organization spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri as calling Abbas's quotes "unnecessary media escalation.”

Well, maybe.... Unless what Abu Bluff really wants is to drive a wedge between his own organization and Hamas.

Abbas also addressed the diplomatic process with Israel in the LBC interview, saying that the United States has the power to stop the Palestinians from taking their bid for a state to the United Nations in September.

"I don't know if the United States has other options," he said, "but if they put them in our hands, we will not go to the UN," he said.

During the interview, Abbas said he believed that of the 192 voting nations in the UN, 116 are currently ready to recognize a Palestinian state. However, he said, if the United States was able to bring a return to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the bid could possibly be reconsidered.

But as of now, those talks aren't going to happen. Abu Mazen is still insisting on a 'settlement freeze' in Jerusalem.

Labels: Abu Mazen, Fatah, Hamas, Salam Fayyad

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:47 PM