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Photo: EPA
אבו מאזן ב פרלמנט האיחוד האירופי ב בריסל
Photo: EPA
Smadar Perry

Time for Abbas to go

Op-ed: Mahmoud Abbas has held the keys to the Palestinian leadership for too long, and has done nothing with it. He not only hasn't done anything productive regarding the peace process, but even for his own people. It's time for him to go.

So have we poisoned the wells, or is it a “mistake” that Israel is not scheming to do away with tens of thousands of Palestinians through lethal drinking water? The man that accused us of doing this is the man that quietly recanted his allegations on Saturday. It depends on which stage he chooses to make accusations and from which direction he retracts them and admits his “error.”

 

 

Abu Mazen, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority President in the West Bank and president of the entity in the “Occupied Territories" - whatever title makes you happy: Go home. Enough. Your time's passed.

 

It was proven in front of the entire world that you're really not a partner for peace. We're tired of listening to your voice. The damage that you're bringing to your people is greater than the benefit. Read your public opinion polls—even before the scandal on the stage of the EU—and you will see what 65 percent of your people think about the continuation of your rule and your popularity in West Bank cities. Regarding that poll, you can't accuse Israeli hands of guiding the opinions of the Palestinian street to tell you, "Enough already." Not "farewell"; not "see you soon."

 

It can be assumed that in the next few days, a picture of you in your office in Ramallah will reach us, emanating warmth and smiling down upon Israeli peace activists. You will tell them that you were and always will be looking towards peace. You will say that you are interested in meeting with Netanyahu and that the issue in Brussels was an “unfortunate misunderstanding.” I hope that this time our peace camp will not hurry to Ramallah. Pay attention: Even on the Palestinian side, intellectuals, businessmen, and senior journalists are stuttering. They don’t know how to explain the president to themselves, much less interpret him for Israeli ears.

 

 

Mahmoud Abbas speaking at the EU Parliament (Photo: AFP) (צילום: AFP)
Mahmoud Abbas speaking at the EU Parliament (Photo: AFP)

 

Oh Abu Mazen, I certainly can understand why you have hesitated in taking advantage of the opportunity to meet with President Rivlin, having been in the same place at the same time as him. The whisperers in your ears (we know who they are) warned you that Rivlin does not make decisions, does not have the authority to negotiate, and is barred from partaking in political matters. But in our neighborhood everything relates to politics. Our president received a green light from Bibi and recruited the EU chairman to organize the meeting. You knew all the details that took place behind the scenes and you also know that Ruvi is important to us. But you insisted on not meeting with him.

 

What would have happened if the meeting ended merely with a joint picture? No one in the Palestinian street would come out to protest against you because you met Rivlin. You could have referred to the picture in the Muqata and in your speech in Brussels and spoken about the merit of resuming negotiations and the peace process. For example, you could have scored a goal in Netanyahu’s net and convince him that what you say and what you think are truly consistent.

 

I guess that it makes you angry to hear that Israel (and Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and even Secretary of State Kerry) are ready for the day after your departure? It makes you angry to read that Liberman is pushing in the direction of your arch nemesis, Mohammed Dahlan. No one will forget -not us, not you, and not even the Palestinian constitution - that you are an illegitimate president.

 

You were elected in 2005 and finished your term after four years. Since then you refuse to hold presidential elections and are holding onto the most powerful seat and threatening to isolate and not to build.

 

But it's no use. The truth is your health is fine until now, you're 81 years old, the "package" that you are leaving behind will become a bomb. The moment has come for you to give up the nickname “the president of the state of Palestine, get up and go.”

 

If there is a solution to the conflict, they are waiting for whoever comes after you. That is the natural path and politics. Should I say it one more time? Enough, you have not succeeded. Return the keys.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.01.16, 09:05
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