Abbas' historical gamble

[bemildred]

Yesterday's speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) was not enough to make headlines. Everything has already been said and known in advance. Nonetheless, Abbas' speech was a masterpiece of an experienced politician who on the one hand knows how to take advantage of the stage he was given in order to gain support for his domestic politics, and on the other hand send out a calming message to the Israeli public and international community.

In his speech, Abbas referred to Yasser Arafat's historical 1974 speech at the United Nations and offering the 'Abu Ammar' olive branch, saying the Palestinians want peace. Abu Mazen reiterated the promise that the Palestinians are still offering the olive branch and joked that he hopes the branch will not be taken from their hands. He seemed confident, and as usual interrupted his speech many times with entertaining comments. But, unlike Arafat's famous 1974 speech that was full of pathos, Abbas did not strap a weapons belt to his hips and instead emphasized again and again that the Palestinians are not seeking violence.

The Palestinian Authority chairman turned to his people and requested that every move, procession, march and activity will be carried out with peace. "Do not give the Israelis an opportunity and do not be dragged behind the Israeli attempts to lead us to violence. Every military act r any act of violence will only harm our efforts." Many Israelis knew to criticize Abbas' apparent weakness over the past few years. But making such a demand of his public shows a prominent feature that indicates his strong hold on Fatah and the West Bank, and displays a different leadership to that which the Israelis were used to during Arafat's time. Abbas is not afraid of making it clear to the people of Fatah or the Palestinian territories that "the armed struggle", one of the Fatah's milestones, is undesirable for the 2011 model of a Palestinian state.

Indeed the Palestinian Authority chairman does not suffice with declarations alone. He already instructed Palestinian security organizations to prevent residents from engaging in violence with Israeli targets. He made it clear, as usual, that even if 100% of the Palestinian security forces efforts to stop violence are registered, it is unlikely that 100% of them will be successful.

http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/mess-report/abbas-historical-gamble-1.384980

[aquart]

1. Sounds like a smart survivor.

And Ramallah is a lot more fun than anywhere in Gaza.

But the Palestinians are asking when they will get their share of Arab spring...and that alone is making their leaders look to proactive gestures like this.

[bemildred]

2. A puff piece, some interesting bits.

I have not been fond of him, but yeah, at this point you can say he is a survivor. One assumes he has excellent bodyguards and needs them.