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Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-abbas-mideast9-2009oct09,0,7198811.story
Abbas Facing Leadership Crisis
[Los Angeles Times] Richard Boudreaux - Hounded by his moderate supporters and militant rivals alike, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is facing a leadership crisis that will make it harder for the Obama administration to draw him into peace talks with Israel. He made two concessions that ignited fury at home and across the Arab world: First he joined President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for a meeting in New York last month to explore prospects for formal talks. Then last week he agreed, under American pressure, to postpone the Palestinians' demand for a UN Security Council debate on a UN report accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza. While Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has for months offered to resume talks, "I cannot imagine that Abbas can meet [U.S. envoy] Mitchell and simply agree to resume negotiations with Israel without preconditions," said Mouin Rabbani, a Palestinian political analyst based in Jordan.