Compared to his peers, Abbas is a statesman. He seems to have a sense of history and a good understanding of the dynamics of politics. The proposal seems to have all the ingredients of a short range plan that just might work. Abbas’s called for a referendum on negotiating with Israel if no deal is reached on a political program within 10 days. The ultimatum given appears intended to push Hamas to moderate it's stand, or save face and not do so. Then a referendum could authorize recognition of Israel, accepting a Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza and approving the 18 point plan.
The document, negotiated by senior members of the leading Palestinian factions currently being held in prison by Israel, has 18 main proposals.
1 The establishment of a Palestinian state and the return of refugees to their homes.
2 Incorporating Hamas and Islamic Jihad into the Palestine Liberation Organisation [PLO].
3 To resist Israeli occupation of lands captured in 1967 [the West Bank and Gaza].
4 The formulation of a political plan including Arab summit resolutions, the PLO platform and fair international proposals.
5 To consolidate the Palestinian Authority as the core of the state.
6 The setting up of a national unity government for all factions, especially Fatah and Hamas.
7 The PLO and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, would be in charge of peace negotiations.
8 Freedom for all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
9 Aid for refugees.
10 To set up a united movement for resistance against Israeli occupation with political backing.
11 Maintain democratic elections and politics.
12 The condemnation of the Israeli and US siege on the Palestinian people.
13 To promote national unity by backing the Palestinian Authority, president, PLO and government.
14 Ban on use of weapons in internal conflicts and renouncing divisions and [internal] violence.
15 To improve the participation of the people of Gaza in freedom and independence.
16 To reform and develop the security forces.
17 The passing of laws reorganising the security forces and banning security officers from political activity.
18 To boost efforts of international solidarity groups in struggles against Israeli occupation, settlements and security barrier.
This looks like a very shrewd gambit. Abbas must be a pretty good chess player. He pushes Hamas to join the mainstream and recognize Israel, but still gives them an out should they decide they can't. I think they would have already done so if they could have. To allay concerns about giving away land, he adds a condition he knows Israel will never accept, withdrawal to its pre-1967 borders. But if he can bring Hamas into the PLO, or into the process in some other way, negotiating based on the Abu Mazen Plan from 1995, the plan that looked very much like Sharon's Wall.
Abbas sees a future of PLO as a united Palestinian organization, one that would wield the kind of political clout it never has or can have without essentially renouncing terrorism. The 18 point plan calls for centralized "resistance", clearly a move to redirect energies politically. Hamas and Islamic Jihad then would be "welcomed" into the PLO, the Palestinian Authority would presumably incorporate both Fatah and Hamas members. Hamas could focus it's efforts on cleaning up the corruption within PLO and the PA. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and perhaps even Iran could be persuaded to join this coalition. Perhaps even Syria might see this as way to begin to shed it's pariah status. Such a coalition would have the clout to force the US to the table to pressure Israel to negotiate in good faith.
Before Rabin was assasinated, peace seemed so close. I so much want to see this happen. I've thought from the beginning that Abbas is the kind of man who had the skills to do this. He lacked the political support to clean house in the PLO, so he has lost support and credibility playing the power broker, rather than the leader. Perhaps he can become the leader now. I pray.
2 comments:
The point is that Hamas would be in agreement with such a proposal and has made similar proposals before, based on the premise Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders.
Do you really think that Israel will do this? I do not. Furthermore, Abbas is attempting to broker such a deal when he also knows Israel will not agree to this and therefore it is suspectedly a ploy to raise his own profile in comparison to Hamas, by challenging Hamas.
Suspician of Abbas is increased because of the fact that he is now accepting arms from Israel and therefore in league with them, although no deal/peace has been implemented. Some would consider such action as treacherous.
Abbas negotiated arms for the PA when the roadmap was initially begun. Arms for Abbas nearly scuttled the agreement because it was so controversial in Israel. Due to existing arms embargoes, Palestinians could not import weapons legally. Isreal would not change that, so they had no choice but to supply weapons to the PA. Can you imagine a police force in the West Bank and Gaza without weapons or using illegally obtained weapons?
You are clearly responding to propaganda from some party, perhaps Hamas?
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