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Mahmoud Abbas' Empty Threats

(Hudson Institute-New York) Khaled Abu Toameh - In the past five years, Abbas has threatened to resign at least 25 times. Of course he never carried out his threat, which was obviously intended to extract concessions and money from the West. His resignation could actually be a positive step for the Palestinians: it would pave the way for the emergence of new leaders. Yasser Arafat used to warn American and European officials that if they did not give him enough money and weapons, the Iranian-backed Hamas would take over the Palestinian Authority. In the end, Hamas won in the January 2006 parliamentary election - largely because the Americans and Europeans gave money to Arafat without holding him accountable. Abbas has no intention of stepping down or dissolving the PA. He and the old guard in the PLO will stay in power until the last day of their lives.
2011-11-02 00:00:00
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