Israel Matzav

Abu Bluff declares himself a hero, because no one else will

Khaled Abu Toameh reports what's behind the organized demonstrations in support of 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen (hint: they're not spontaneous) in Ramallah. This is from the first link.

Before heading to Washington, Abbas instructed the PA to organize public rallies in the West Bank in his support.

PA employees and schoolchildren were sent into the streets to chant slogans in support of Abbas, urging him not to succumb to U.S. pressure. The rallies were intended to send a message to President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry that the Palestinian public is strongly opposed to any concessions to Israel.

Upon Abbas' return to Ramalllah, the Palestinian Authority once again organized rallies in support of him. On March 20 hundreds of PA employees and schoolchildren were sent to welcome Abbas at his presidential office and thank him for resisting U.S. pressure.

Bassam Zakarneh, chairman of the Palestinian Public Employees' Union, said that the rallies were aimed at thanking Abbas for resisting "pressure and conspiracies and upholding Palestinian rights."

The pro-Abbas rallies have drawn criticism from some Palestinians, who said they seemed reminiscent of demonstrations organized by dictators and their security agencies throughout the Arab world.

"These rallies are not real," complained West Bank university professor Abdel Sattar Qassem.

"They are similar to what Arab intelligence agencies have been doing -- using blackmail and intimidation to force their public servants to show loyalty for the ruler."

Abbas is now hoping to turn himself into a hero by telling his people that he had the guts to say no to Obama and Kerry during his visit to Washington.

Abbas is badly in need of public support, especially in light of increased tensions inside his ruling Fatah faction. In the past few days, these tensions have erupted into an all-out confrontation between Abbas and ousted Fatah Central Committee member Mohamed Dahlan.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Abu Mazen, Barack Hussein Obama, John Kerry, Middle East peace process, Mohamed Dahlan, Palestinian state RIGHT NOW syndrome

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:29 PM