(Hudson Institute-New York) Khaled Abu Toameh - As the Palestinian Authority continues to threaten to ask the UN in September to recognize a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines, someone needs to ask President Mahmoud Abbas whether he really has a mandate from his people to embark on such a step. Today, there is no Palestinian leader who has a mandate to make any concessions to Israel in return for peace - especially when it comes to explosive issues such as the future of Jerusalem or the "right of return" for Palestinian refugees. Abbas' term in office expired in early 2009 and since then Palestinians haven't been given a chance to choose a new president through free and democratic elections. Important and historic decisions, such as seeking UN recognition of a Palestinian state, are being taken without an open debate. PLO and Fatah officials who have come out against Abbas' decision to go to the UN in September are being accused by Fatah-run newspapers and web sites of being part of an "outside conspiracy" to undermine the Palestinian Authority.
2011-06-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive