Opinion | Editorials
Abbas prepares to go it alone
With peace talks halted, another way is sought around the conundrum
- Published: 00:00 May 6, 2006
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is hoping to urgently talk with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. It is a desperate attempt by Abbas to forestall any unilateral Israeli decision on borders with Palestine. Olmert has threatened he will decide on Israel's permanent borders if Hamas fails to renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to exist. As these conditions appear unlikely to be met, it therefore follows that Israel will proceed with its stated intentions.
In response, Abbas wants to continue peace and boundary negotiations. He is prepared to bypass Hamas and appeal directly to Palestinians in a referendum, once an agreement has been reached with Israel.
Abbas claims his reason for going it alone is because he is convinced most Palestinians want peace. Yet by taking an independent line against that of his democratically elected government, Abbas could be inviting civil turbulence where peace is already a precious thing.
More from Editorials
More from Opinions
Opinion Editor's choice
-
No political roadmap for Afghanistan
By Rahimullah Yusufzai, Special to Gulf News
Weak Karzai government does not want Nato to abandon country even after combat troops pull out
-
US campaign to end Israeli occupation
By As’ad Abdul Rahman, Special to Gulf News
It is bound to evoke painful memories of the sordid history in America of the Ku Klux Klan
-
Egypt revolution is far from finished
By Jack Shenker
The Islamist/secularist divide gets all the attention, but it’s also only one faultline among many
Your turn
