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Last update - 09:52 06/11/2009
Abbas decision to withdraw from race draws Israeli, U.S. concern
By Barak Ravid, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel ,Haaretz Correspondents and News Agencies
Tags: Israel News, Mahmoud Abbas 

Israeli and American officials expressed concern over Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's announcement on Thursday that he would not be running for reelection in January.

President Shimon Peres telephoned Abbas on Wednesday night in an effort to persuade the Palestinian leader to change his mind. Peres told Abbas that he was worried that the decision would trigger political crisis in the Palestinian Authority, leading to a Hamas takeover in the West Bank.

"If you leave the Palestinians would lose their chance for an independent state," Peres told Abbas. "The situation in the region would deteriorate. Stay, for the Palestinian people's sake," he said.
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Aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to comment on Abbas' statement, but the prime minister has reportedly said in private meetings recently that it was in Israel's interest to have a strong Abbas who could advance the peace process. Netanyahu made similar statements to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a week ago, saying that it was in Israel's interest to strengthen Abbas as much as possible.


"Of the existing alternatives, if we want an agreement with the Palestinians then Abbas is the best partner," Netanyahu said a few days ago.

He said he was serious about the peace process with the Palestinians and was ready to take risks to advance peace, despite the PA leadership's impression to the contrary.

"The best partner is Abbas, but any Israeli intervention in internal Palestinian politics would only do harm," Netanyahu said. Defense Minister Ehud Barak added that he hoped Abbas' reluctance to run for reelection would not damage the attempt to resume the peace process.

"It's important for both sides to adhere to the principle of negotiating to advance an arrangement," Barak said in a statement. "I suggest making every effort to reach a two-state-for-two-peoples arrangement, while preserving Israel's security interests," he said.

A senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously about the possibility of Abbas disappearing from the political scene, said, "There's a real crisis situation in the PA." Clinton asked Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday and Arab foreign ministers she met in Morocco two days earlier to urge Abbas to remain in office and run for reelection.

After Abbas' speech, Clinton praised his leadership in working toward the
creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, she ignored a question about whether she would urge Abbas to stay on and saying only that she would go on working with him to advance peace.

Abbas: My decision is final


Abbas said Thursday that he had no wish to seek reelection through a presidential poll he called for January, blaming the stalemate in the peace talks on Israel and the United States.

Abbas and his associates were particularly critical of the U.S. administration, which Abbas believes betrayed him.

In a speech broadcast live from Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah, Abbas, 74, said: "I have told our brethren in the Palestine Liberation Organization ... that I have no desire to run in the forthcoming election." Abbas succeeded Yasser Arafat as PLO leader five years ago.

But Abbas' careful wording left room for the possibility that he could be persuaded to change his mind, especially if he perceives the United States as backing his demand for a total end to Israeli construction in West Bank settlements.


Abbas' tenuous domestic political position would make it difficult for him to agree to peace talks without a settlement construction freeze. His Hamas rivals would likely jump on a capitulation to embarrass him.

The decision, reported earlier in the day by aides to Abbas, set off a flurry of calls from regional leaders, with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, President Shimon Peres and the leaders of Egypt and Jordan all urging him change his mind.

Abbas was surprised and disappointed when the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama embraced Israel's position about construction in the settlements and especially in East Jerusalem, Abbas' associates said.

"The problem is Israel and its positions," Abbas said, but associates said he really meant Obama, not Israel.

They said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's praise for Israel's stand in favor of curtailing but not halting settlement construction stunned Abbas, who had previously received full support from the Americans, they said.

Clinton's recent statements in Egypt, according to which the United States does not see the settlements as legitimate, was unsatisfactory to Abbas.

Washington's aggressive statements about the settlements and its uncompromising demands of Israel had driven Abbas to condition the talks on freezing construction in East Jerusalem as well, Abbas aides said.

When the administration changed its position, Abbas was left with no American support, they said.

PA believes Abbas trying to up U.S. pressure on Israel

Abbas' move is seen in Ramallah as aimed at getting the U.S. to exert greater pressure on Israel, especially in view of the lack of a suitable candidate to replace Abbas in the presidential election against Hamas.

To change Abbas' mind Washington will have to produce results from Israel regarding the construction in the settlements. Without significant American achievements, especially vis-a-vis East Jerusalem, Abbas is unlikely to change his decision.

In this case, it is doubtful whether the elections will take place and Abbas will remain in office for a while.

Late last month Abbas told Clinton that he would not run, but recanted after Obama called him and expressed his commitment to Mideast peacemaking, Abbas' aides said.

In the following days, Clinton sought to clarify the American position, first offering warm praise for Israel's offer to somewhat limit West Bank settlement building and then telling Arab leaders that the U.S. wants to see this construction stopped forever.

After Abbas' speech yesterday, Clinton praised his leadership in working toward the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel.

She ignored a question about whether she would try to persuade Abbas to stay on and said: I look forward to working with President Abbas in any new capacity to help achieve this goal.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Abbas' reluctance to run for reelection was a message of reproach to his friends, the Americans and the Israelis.

"We advise him to ... face the Palestinian people and tell them frankly that the path of negotiations has failed. Halt negotiations with the occupation and take practical steps toward reconciliation," he said.

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      1.   Too late 03:16  |  Screwed 06/11/09
      2.   marwan barghouti 03:43  |  sam 06/11/09
      3.   What Abbas really meant to say 04:04  |  *BEN JABO 06/11/09
      4.   He Should Switch To Global Warming 04:27  |  crlman 06/11/09
      5.   Yes, alas, peaceful negotiations have failed 04:52  |  Secular 06/11/09
      6.   Good riddance Abbas 04:58  |  Sabra 06/11/09
      7.   Better off without him 06:45  |  Jay 06/11/09
      8.   Netanyahu has successfully gotten Hamas elected 07:00  |  Javier Lobo 06/11/09
      9.   Politicians Retire 07:47  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/11/09
      10.   Abbas should go on hunger strike and die a hero 08:01  |  Mike 06/11/09
      11.   Being nice do not work. 08:53  |  Nelly 06/11/09
      12.   What an incredible slap in the face for the "bigots"...... 09:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/11/09
      13.   Abbas finds he can`t push US around and is now pouting 09:22  |  lily 06/11/09
      14.   Good riddance for Palestinians sake 09:25  |  Omar the Palestinian 06/11/09
      15.   Israeli, U.S. "concern", are you kidding....??? 09:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/11/09
      16.   Obvious Arab tactics to grab a hold of Jerusalem 09:51  |  Gilad 06/11/09
      17.   Abbas 10:06  |  Michael 06/11/09
      18.   embarassed to live in peace with Israel 10:24  |  Miron 06/11/09
      19.   # Gilad 10:30  |  tel aviv eyes 06/11/09
      20.   The PLO 10:40  |  mark 06/11/09
      21.   Michael #13... maybe Abbas weary of being Israel`s puppet... 10:42  |  Esther 06/11/09
      22.   # Omar 11:01  |  tel aviv eyes 06/11/09
      23.   dissolve... Palestine... 11:04  |  Miron 06/11/09
      24.   Abbas couldn`t reach agreement with Israel on one core issue 11:05  |  Sam 06/11/09
      25.   Esther 19 11:20  |  John spear 06/11/09
      26.   #17 Tel Aviv Eyes - Empty soul 11:29  |  Gilad 06/11/09
      27.   Abbas is particularly unpopular amongst Palestinians 11:36  |  Proud Israeli 06/11/09
      28.   Strange comment from Netanyahu 11:40  |  Roo 06/11/09
      29.   Natanyahu/Peres concerned for Abbas? 11:41  |  Roo 06/11/09
      30.   Peres "Palestinian`s to lose chance for statehood" 11:44  |  Roo 06/11/09
      31.   Israel and the US destroy another chance of peace. 12:25  |  Michael 06/11/09
      32.   The policy of blaming Israel for everything ... 12:37  |  Akram Zekaria 06/11/09
      33.   No partner for peace 13:09  |  Murray 06/11/09
      34.   Abbasgets a vote of confidence from Bibi and Peres 13:14  |  Natallie Durson 06/11/09
      35.   Abbas 13:24  |  Sam Soul 06/11/09
      36.   ABBAS 13:26  |  OZ 06/11/09
      37.   Sam NY - Gilad Shalit is held by Hamass 13:56  |  lily 06/11/09
      38.   Bibi said "taking risks for peace" 13:57  |  Nahman Umani 06/11/09
      39.   Blaming Israel for everything made the Palestinians pay ! 14:06  |  Akram Zekaria 06/11/09
      40.   Why, Because Abbas is Such a Great Leader? 14:21  |  Jane 06/11/09
      41.   how can he quit,seeing peace is just around the corner? 14:42  |  shlomo salamtak bye 06/11/09
      42.   Mutually Assured Destruction 15:02  |  HPL 06/11/09
      43.   Happy retirement Abbas... 15:03  |  Michael J 06/11/09
      44.   Blind 15:03  |  EGB 06/11/09
      45.   Go and go quickly 16:05  |  Gilad 06/11/09
      46.   Negotiations are waste fo time 16:22  |  C2 06/11/09
      47.   18 16:28  |  zionist forever 06/11/09
      48.   serious ? 16:33  |  flo 06/11/09
      49.   Swiss (Dino)-Perhaps it`s the opposite 16:35  |  Jane 06/11/09
      50.   Gilad 16:39  |  flo 06/11/09
      51.   US and Israeli concerns on Abbas resignation 16:47  |  Sammar 06/11/09
      52.   Well I Ain`t Gonna Lie But... 16:54  |  Eli 06/11/09
      53.   Silliness 17:08  |  Stephen 06/11/09
      54.   Abbas decision to withdraw from race draws Israeli concern 17:14  |  Meir 06/11/09
      55.   So Be It 17:24  |  Vladek 06/11/09
      56.   # 25 Jane 17:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/11/09
      57.   He`s tired of being a powerless puppet 17:52  |  ghostoflutherblisset 06/11/09
      58.   Whats the suprise? 18:03  |  Danite 06/11/09
      59.   Jane 18:04  |  Danite 06/11/09
      60.   Peace 18:28  |  John 06/11/09
      61.   #26 flo ..... fear = no peace 18:32  |  Gilad 06/11/09
      62.   I`ll be happy to see Abbas going 18:48  |  Palestinian 06/11/09
      63.   Netanyahu Wants a Strong Abbas? Ha! 18:48  |  Reader 06/11/09
      64.   Jane it is Israel 19:45  |  American in NY 06/11/09
      65.   Jane - a REAL LEADER 19:54  |  r cummings 06/11/09
      66.   THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: HAMAS 20:44  |  chilem 06/11/09
      67.   to Jay #7 20:56  |  zeev 06/11/09
      68.   r cummings - Not "Happy" About It 21:14  |  Jane 06/11/09
      69.   What reason for concern? 21:17  |  Mark Lincoln 06/11/09
      70.   US`s Uncle Tom 22:36  |  Joe 06/11/09
      71.   Abbas falls the way of all palestinian leaders who refuse to 23:11  |  jj 06/11/09
      72.   Well it is confusing times...what`s a better alternative to PA? 23:32  |  Smadar 06/11/09
      73.   Dropping out is not enough for Abbas 04:35  |  BIG 07/11/09
      74.   If Abbas has any honor, he should lead a Palestinian resistance 05:00  |  Sami 07/11/09
      75.   Solution in Time 05:05  |  Brad 07/11/09
      76.   Disillusioned 08:47  |  GalileeHero 07/11/09
      77.   No need to be concerned 10:23  |  Angry Arab (As`ad) 07/11/09
      78.   Well Said Swiss Dino... 11:41  |  Steve 07/11/09
      79.   US incompetence lead to Abbas`s withdrawl 12:45  |  Joseph Blough 07/11/09
      80.   Yes BEN JABO 14:40  |  jake 1948 07/11/09
      81.   Ballots Vs Bullets 15:58  |  Bazmann 07/11/09
      82.   Hanan Ashrawi asked for a freeze in settlements 16:12  |  Secular 07/11/09
      83.   #74 Jake-48 17:03  |  *BEN JABO 07/11/09
      84.   #76 Secular - It takes two to Tango 17:08  |  *BEN JABO 07/11/09
      85.   #70 Sami At this point, there`s nothing honorable in violent 17:16  |  Smadar 07/11/09
      86.   to Javier Lobo #8 - 2nd try 17:28  |  zeev 07/11/09
      87.   to Sabra #6 - 2nd try 17:30  |  zeev 07/11/09
      88.   Pal. Pres. M. Abbas will resign? 18:33  |  Ricardo Kolbe 07/11/09
      89.   Make-believe "peace process" without peace a necessity for Israel 19:04  |  David 07/11/09
      90.   Not only should he withdraw 20:46  |  Joe 07/11/09
      91.   There is no chance for an independent state to begin with. 22:15  |  Kris Lazar 07/11/09
      92.   #85 Joe - USA 22:25  |  *BEN JABO 07/11/09
      93.   BEN JABO Uh? 01:40  |  CJ 08/11/09
      94.   Israel offers the perpetual "chance" at an independent state. 03:41  |  Ibrahim 08/11/09
      95.   In his hubristic moments (in English: always) BEN JABO 03:52  |  An enraged bystander 08/11/09
      96.   #95 bystander 16:41  |  *BEN JABO 08/11/09
      97.   CJ - You forgot all about the UN Partition 16:44  |  *BEN JABO 08/11/09
      98.   on *BEN JABO #84, always clever (3rd try) 23:02  |  zeev 08/11/09
      99.   to Joe #90 - 2nd try 23:12  |  zeev 08/11/09
      100.   #98 Zeev - always the Dybbuk & Golem 02:42  |  *BEN JABO 09/11/09
      101.   to Akram Zekaria #32, so right (12th try) 10:23  |  zeev 17/11/09
      102.   to Jane #40 - 12th try 22:43  |  zeev 07/12/09
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