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Rice Should Focus on Extending Abbas' Term

[Washington Post] Dennis Ross - What happens in January 2009 when Mahmoud Abbas' term as president of the Palestinian Authority expires? With Hamas in control of Gaza, Abbas issued a decree some time ago to hold the presidential elections simultaneously with the legislative council elections in January 2010. Hamas leaders have already begun to declare that Abbas will have no legitimacy after his term ends. Secretary of State Rice remains determined to try to produce an agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians on the permanent-status issues of Jerusalem, refugees, security and borders. While that might be desirable, it is simply not in the cards. Rice would be well advised to direct her attention elsewhere and line up Arab support for Abbas staying in office - something that should not be hard to do. One option would be to try to seize the high ground and put Hamas on the defensive by having Abbas (with a public endorsement from Arab leaders and the Quartet) call for presidential elections to be held as soon as security conditions in Gaza permit. Those conditions would require at least some PA security presence, along with international observers to ensure the elections are free and fair and conducted without Hamas intimidation.
2008-09-15 01:00:00
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