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The End of Palestinian Reform

(Commentary) Jonathan S. Tobin - Many in the West have been in denial about the demise of the one genuine moderate in Palestinian politics, ex-prime minister Salam Fayyad. Far from continuing the American-educated technocrat's policies aimed at stopping corruption and facilitating development, even the New York Times admits that Hamdallah is likely to keep foreign donations "in the family" and return the PA back to the bad old days when Yasir Arafat and his cronies were pocketing billions intended to better the lives of ordinary Palestinians. Fayyad's intention to change Palestinian political culture was clear. He wanted to clean up the PA's act and create a new constituency for policies oriented toward prosperity and peace, rather than the perpetual war fever and hatred for Israelis and Jews. By appointing Hamdallah, Abbas is showing that he not only doesn't give a damn what the Obama administration thinks but that he believes a return to Arafat's ways won't bring about any consequences from Washington. Without Fayyad, the pretense that the PA is anything but a kleptocracy is now gone.
2013-06-04 00:00:00
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