Abbas Not To Seek Re-Election, Say Palestinian Officials

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has said he will not seek re-election when elections are held in January, Palestinian officials said.

"The president insists on not running in the upcoming election," an official from the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) executive committee said on Thursday.

Another PLO official said Abbas will give a speech later on Thursday explaining his decision not to run.

Abbas recenty issued a decree announcing that presidential and parliamentary polls would take place on January 24.

But the Hamas-run interior ministry in the Gaza Strip ordered Palestinians in the territory not to take part in elections.

Read more at Al Jazeera English

Comments

[hemara]

If the duplicitous Israelis are worried about Abbas' departure then I'm in favour of it.

and

The US will never have credibility in this region until they stop propping up Israel.

[vascopyjama]

That footage of Hillary walking along with he arm on Abbas' shoulder showed how insensitive she is to local customs.

[larce1948]

Abbas is wise to leave. He has been betrayed by the U.S. time and again. Israel viewed him as a useful tool to continue their rapacious theft of Palestinian land. Peace talks with Israel is useless.

[wags101]

I am quite sure Israel's "concern" over Abbas leaving is that they're losing a "partner in peace". Afterall, how many times can they get away with war crimes, genocide, stealing resources, stopping the Palestinians flow of movement, and stealing lands? Maybe they will get a real leader who won't be fooled by Israel.

[CigarGod]

"Maybe they will get a real leader who won't be fooled by Israel."

Anytime they get one, they are targeted or locked up.

[yankees]

Just as many times through the centuries that Islam, one faction or another, has done it to the Jews since its inception but we don't ever talk about that, do we? Their land by the sword, always was and it seems it always will be.

[Rog49Thomas]

Now here's a related foreign policy trivia connection.

When a foreign leader "on the payroll" steps down from office, does his "salary"

(a) cease

(b) decrease (sort of a ready reserve thing)

Does he get a pension?

Do we continue his medical benefits?

[duxguts]

This has worked out pretty well for Israel and the US. He was their stooge who help drag the so called Peace Process out for a few more years. Now we'll just have to find another puppet. That shouldn't be hard, we're very well liked in the Middle East.

[Rog49Thomas]

Money talks.

The question is does he get a pension?

And which country takes care of his retirement medical coverage?

Is there some complex "co-ordination of benefits" program?

I'm thinking a tri-lingual form - Arabic, Hebrew and English to simplify matters.

[duxguts]

Abbas doesn't need a pension. He wasn't your average dirt poor Palestinian before he took up that position.

[mommamia526]

Well, I just read that Abbas is reseigning and will not run, BECAUSE HAMAS MAKES EXCUSES NOT TO RECONCILE WITH FATAH, WHILE KEEPING ITS OWN PEOPLE UNDER SIEGE. We will have to wait what Abbas will publicly say on this matter, sothat we can hear it ourselves.

However, Abbas had declared an election and Hamas forbade it. Hamas has also publicly stated that there will be no peace, but there will be war, AND a ship with weapons destined for Hezbullah has been seized. Hezbullah and Hamas are both supported by Iran.

And I just keep on wondering how this will benefit the Palestinians outside of Israel, PA, Lebanon, Gaza, Jordan (refugees from Iraq). I can not see it. Anyone who could explain it?

Again, I am waiting for Abbas' speech and then next will come up Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu addressing the GA, next week, I think. We are living in interesting times, unfortunately.

[Rog49Thomas]

Yeah, isn't it remarkable how they won the last free election in Palestine with such bad behavior?

[EllaLaurent]

Who can blame the poor guy?

The United States urged him not to back the Goldstone Report and he did so, only to have Israel continue building settlements and the United States turn a blind eye. He was humiliated before his people and he no longer has any credibility.

The USA and Israel played this man like a fiddle. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter who leads the Palestinians, Israel will continue building settlements and the Pals will continue with internecine fighting.

[Rog49Thomas]

Yep, it's just like the story of poor old Vidkun.

[who38]

Think Israel and the US made a bad decision in trying not to work harder with Abbas? Wonder what will happen now........

[Rog49Thomas]

Depends what their ultimate goal is.

When you have folks "on the payroll", you generally hire them for a specific role.

[Wisdo]

Same as always, more settlements, more "jews only" roads, more water taken for swimming pools, more villages bulldozed, more women and children bombed, more despair, more suffering, more death and more land for Israel.

[Albert Amato]

As long as Hamas has a declared war on Israel, you are correct......only they can make peace.
Peace usually comes from war and one side sues for peace.
Hamas care not about it's citizens.

[Rog49Thomas]

As Wisdo points out, one has to judge a decision in the light of one's long term goals.

On that basis, you might want to rethink calling this a bad decision.

[basenji]

Interesting read:

Declassified FBI File Alleges an Israeli Intelligence Agent Worked at AIPAC
Thu Nov 5, 2009 8:20am EST Email | Print | Share | Reprints | Single Page [-] Text [+]
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 /PRNewswir­e-USNewswi­re/ -- An agent of the Israeli
intelligence service worked on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC) according to a newly declassified FBI file.

An August 13, 1984 secret communication from the FBI Washington Field Office
(WFO) to the FBI director states, "WFO files disclose that AIPAC is a powerful
pro-Israel lobbying group staffed by U.S. citizens. WFO files contain an
unsubstantiated allegation that a member of the Israeli Intelligence Service
was a staff member of AIPAC." The newly declassified document may be
downloaded from the Israel Lobby Archive at:
http://www.irmep.org/ILA/economy/08131984_WFO_DFBI_REPORT.pdf

According to the newly released IRmep book "Spy Trade: How Israel's Lobby
Undermines America's Economy," the 1984 and 2005 espionage incidents were not
isolated events. Using declassified documents, "Spy Trade" documents Israeli
covert actions against US military and industrial targets from the 1940s
through the present.

"Spy Trade" also presents a damage assessment for the 1984 AIPAC industrial
espionage incident: US $71 billion in lost exports, equivalent to 100,000 jobs
over the last decade. "Spy Trade" may be purchased at MiddleEast­Books.com,
Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and other bookstores.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS153349+05-Nov-2009+PRN20091105

[GZLives]

so you're trying to change the subject because I cannot understand WTF this has to do with this article? Can you explain?

[phute]

gzilives - an interesting read is an interesting read - calm down.
Like you always stay on topic.

[MosheDayanHero]

Ciao bello.

[alysheba 3]

Abbas realized that his running would not do any good. He is now recognized as a puppet of the US and Israel. And the US and Israel have only themselves to blame. The undermining of Abbas' credibility has been an ongoing action, and now the consequences will come home to roost.

Of course, if the US and Israel don't like the election results they will just install another puppet anyways.

[TheLonelyGod]

Interesting how Al-Jazz refers to the PA as the "PLO."

Oh, and don't let the door hit you on the way out, Abbas.

[jwcmass]

It didn't refer to the PA as the PLO. It said that a SPOKESMAN from the PLO made the announcement.

And Israel may soon wish it had Abbas to negotiate with. He was willing to talk.

The only good news is that Hamas is calling for a boycott of the elections, which means they probably won't be running.