Friday
Nov132009
Palestine: Abbas Bluffs & Wins --- January Election Postponed
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 9:41
Israel-Palestine & France: Sarkozy Calls Abbas after Meeting Netanyahu
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Mahmoud Abbas: “Israel Does Not Want Peace but We Do”
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On Thursday, the chairman of the Palestinian election commission, Hanna Nasser, said that the 24 January election would be postponed indefinitely due to a lack of cooperation from Hamas, "We planned to go to Gaza to figure out how we can conduct elections there. In the meantime, we received an answer from Hamas that we are not welcome in Gaza. It is clear now that we cannot hold an election in Gaza."
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, confirmed, "President Abbas will make the appropriate decision after he returns [from Jordan]. Hamas' decision to ban the election commission from working in Gaza proves that Hamas is not eager to reach national unity and reconciliation."
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated that opposition to the election was because it had been unilaterally declared, "Without reconciliation, there will be no election."
And so Mahmoud Abbas' bluff plays out successfully. When he announced that he would not stand again for President, bringing appeals from various quarters --- the West Bank leadership, Israel, the US --- that he stay, Abbas knew the pretext of Hamas' position could be used to postpone the democratic process. And now he remains as the leader of Palestine (West Bank) without the inconvenience that he might not have won a Presidential contest in January.
Inside Line on Hamas & Hezbollah: Their Thoughts on Obama, Unity Governments, & Oprah
Mahmoud Abbas: “Israel Does Not Want Peace but We Do”
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
On Thursday, the chairman of the Palestinian election commission, Hanna Nasser, said that the 24 January election would be postponed indefinitely due to a lack of cooperation from Hamas, "We planned to go to Gaza to figure out how we can conduct elections there. In the meantime, we received an answer from Hamas that we are not welcome in Gaza. It is clear now that we cannot hold an election in Gaza."Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, confirmed, "President Abbas will make the appropriate decision after he returns [from Jordan]. Hamas' decision to ban the election commission from working in Gaza proves that Hamas is not eager to reach national unity and reconciliation."
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated that opposition to the election was because it had been unilaterally declared, "Without reconciliation, there will be no election."
And so Mahmoud Abbas' bluff plays out successfully. When he announced that he would not stand again for President, bringing appeals from various quarters --- the West Bank leadership, Israel, the US --- that he stay, Abbas knew the pretext of Hamas' position could be used to postpone the democratic process. And now he remains as the leader of Palestine (West Bank) without the inconvenience that he might not have won a Presidential contest in January.
Reader Comments (4)
But if elections were to be held without Gaza, the West Bank alone would end up with a president and not the Palestinians. Isn't that right?
Even if it was declared that elections would be held merely in the West Bank, it would be the beginning of a new turmoil! Neither Abbas nor Washington would like to deal with a Hamas seen as "fighting for the rights of Palestinians" by the majority of the population!
Plus wouldn't it pretty well be a nail in the coffin for any hope of P/I negotiations?
Yes, it would be. That is the broader aspect of calling Abbas's decision in the beginning as a bluff when it is considered that this picture would never be approved by Washington. So, in other words, we can understand Washington's call on Abbas to run for re-election as a warning not to do a "mistake" rather than a "friendly advice."