(New York Times) Ethan Bronner - In the daily demonstrations in the West Bank of solidarity with Gaza, there is growing identification with the Islamist fighters of Hamas and derision for the Palestinian Authority, reflecting a widespread sentiment that does not augur well for President Mahmoud Abbas, who is rapidly losing credibility, even relevance. "What stands out from this event is the irrelevance of Abbas," Moshe Ya'alon, Israel's minister of strategic affairs, said Monday. "He's only relevant for declarations and for unilateral steps to seek recognition at the UN." Another senior Israeli official said of Abbas: "He cannot even visit his own territory in Gaza. How can the states that will vote for Palestinian statehood plan on giving him recognition? The most basic element of statehood is control of your territory. This is the theater of the absurd."
2012-11-20 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive