Palestine: Abbas Resign? It's a Bluff

Israel-Palestine: Clinton Tries to Help Abbas

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Just before the arrivals of the U.S. Mideast special envoy George Mitchell and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Israel, the declaration of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas that he would resign or decline to run in next January's elections have been exposed as a bluff.

A high-ranking figure in Fatah told journalists, "You can remain calm. On our side, no senior official resigns."

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A violent morning on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border: soon after learning of the Taliban gun battle in Kabul that left at least 12 dead, including six United Nations staff, news came through of a car bomb in the Khyber Bazaar at Peshawar. At least 95 are dead and 213  wounded.

The bombing occurred hours after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in the country for talks with Pakistani leaders. Another car bomb in Peshawar on 9 October killed 49 people. Video via CNN:

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Israel-Palestine: Clinton Tries to Help Abbas

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The US Government said yesterday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will make her first official visit to Israel on Saturday following her meeting with Arab leaders in Morocco. President Obama's envoy George Mitchell will bein Israel for preparatory discussions from Thursday.

Clinton is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and President Shimon Peres on Sunday.

Israel-Palestine: Clinton Tries to Help Abbas

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Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, is using every means available to press Washington on the Israel-Palestine issue. It emerged yesterday that last week Abbas told President Obama by phone last week that he wants to leave his post since he sees no chance for peace with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On the same day, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat blamed Israel for the current impasse:

The gap is still wide and Israel does not give a single sign of meeting its obligations under the road map, halting settlement activities and resuming negotiations where they left off. I do not see any possibility for restarting peace talks in the near future.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has joined the debate, saying that the Abbas administration must be bolstered against Israel's unwillingness and Hamas's resistance. She suggested that Israel carry out a series of goodwill actions and show greater flexibility to facilitate the resumption of talks and thatArab foreign ministers, meeting in Morocco on 2 November, step up their political and economic support for Abbas vis-a-vis Hamas.

It is unclear, however, what Washington will or can do beyond Clinton's general call. Israel has already stated that it will stop settlement constructions temporarily without the "natural growth." "One more step" means the demand on Israel for the full concession of a complete halt. As for the request to Arab foreign ministers to increase their support to the Palestine Authority: will that be enough to destroy Hamas or will it only contribute to a tougher line by the Gazan leadership?

Abbas will probably not resign; after all, he just gambled on his political future by announcing January elections. Look instead for him and Netanyahu to nod their hands as negotiations continue to drift about very distant peace talks.

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Despite Hamas' objections and warnings, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that he will set 24 January as the date for presidential and legislative elections. At the time, appearing with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Abbas claimed, "Fatah completely supported the Egyptian proposal [for Palestinian reconciliation]...but then Hamas put down obstacles."

Abbas, who has faced difficulties not only with Hamas but also with Palestinians in the West Bank and with Israel, has now used his two cards: The threat of a third intifada and the a re-submitted proposal endorsing the Goldstone Report on the Gaza War. Now, it is Hamas' turn, as it ponders whether to warn Washington that the tension may increase in Palestine or to enter the electoral process in the expectation that it can defeat Abbas.

The question is: can Abbas, looking for an exit strategy from the pressure on many fronts, really make the declaration of elections come true, especially in the wake of the recent failed initiative for renewed talks between Israel and Palestine? Or is he bluffing?