let see he was elected what 8 years ago, and no elections since. Hmmmm And the left want to make a deal with this man?

Stating that "Israel recognizes the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people." As long as that's the case, no matter who is elected, the PLO has a case in claiming they are the only ones empowered to sign a peace agreement with Israel. Certainly Israel should refuse any negotiations before Palestinian elections are held, with the proviso that whoever wins that election is empowered to negotiate and sign treaties for the benefit of the Palestinians. At that point, the ball's in the Palestinian court... do they want peace or not? Do they want self-determination or not?

Abbas does not represent anyone but then neither do most of the men in power in the Arab countries. by our definition, they are all illegitimate. Of coursw Abbas knows that in an election he would lose to hamas because the Palestinians do not want peace with israel, they want all of Israel.

Just how is Fatah any different? It too says that they want all of Israel and that they will kill us to get it. There is nothing to talk about the Arabs have violated every single treaty they have ever agreed to for more than 1,400 years now

Abbas represents a moderate faction of The Palestinians or a Pragmatic Realism Faction.He is not Islamic bet wants a large Right of return into Israel of the 1949 armistice lines the one and a half state .

a very large majority of the "palestinian" population supports hamas because the young generation is overwhelmingl radical whereas the older generation is somewhat sympathetic to fatah and Abbas. Hamas is more representative of "palestinians". That is why nothing will improve even if Hamas decides to hold talks with Israel. It will be just another trick like last time with PLO. This is an example of mutual contradiction. We ajews must stop hinking in 2-3 ywar terms and start adopting qnd developing a bigger picture. Lets have a vision of 20-30 or 30-40 years and where we want to be.

Abu Mazen represents nothing. Just the willingness to kill Jews. He is a pretender to the "throne" and a liar to boot. What a peace partner the world has for us. I trust obama and the UN completely, doesn't everyone?

Is Your Land And Your Country!

Abbas is a Holocaust denying terrorist and mastermind of the Munich Massacre who represents a bloodthirsty terrorist organization, the P.A. The P.A. makes no real attempt to hide its goal of destroying Israel. Rather than negotiate with the P.A., Israel should destroy it as the WW II Allies destroyed the Nazis.

It was PM Netanyahu who invited Mr. Kerry, so who is better. It is difficult to say who represent the people.

Israel recognized the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Abbas is the elected Chair of the PLO. The PA,a different entity, cannot have free or fair elections. That possibility was nullified in 2006 when Israel and the US nullified the last PA elections when their revenue sources were withheld for a year and a half and half their government was arrested for being elected. Palestinian elections can again be held once they have actual independence and control of their own revenues. Israel and the Bush administration never thought through the consequences of nullifying Palestinian elections. If Israel wants a different party to negotiate with, appoint somebody. The treaty, whether negotiated or imposed ala Compiegne Railcar, is still subject to a Palestinian plebiscite for ratification.

Even those whom Israel recognizes as their own sole legitimate representative cannot deliver peace to both sides. Then that is the aim to divide and rule.But who is ruling , it is not both leaders . I am sure those who rule and not friends of either sides.

It is time to open your eyes and see if the Palestinians have True Leader with conviction in the heart to bring peace for the sake of his own people

Ask the United Nations or at least 138 + members and find out who Abbas represents. You can also as John Kerry to have you answer.

It is not right that one leader is let off the hook. What is fair is that both confess who it is that they answer to .

Can you possible make peace with such leader and depend on the agreement. I say people who encourage other to kill are not trustworthy. They have no place a negotiation table.

Isn't that what this is all about? Unfortunately you want their land without 'them'...sorry, you're going to take the whole package... TATA

Abbas should stay like he is now; an impotent arab politician shouting empty slogans , paying lipservice to the PLO charter of destroying Israel Step-by-Step, paying his 180,000 civil servants, who perform almost nothing except being payed by Europe, the USA .The Oslo bogus peace process reached its final destination: there is a de facto separation of israel and P.A though some channels work.taxes.security do work.It's a provisory stage taking hold for a long time, and no one has interest to shake it now , except hamas, Iran , the local thugs.The arab world is crumbling ( the arab without oil ) the iranian threat is the real one.Let's take one problem at a time; now it's not abbas, it's Iran.

Yeah, sure, when pigs will fly.

Harold, do put a sock in it. Go take yourself to the ocean, clear your head, paddle & try not to drown.

for Israel to keep the current oh so beneficial status quo.

It's hard when you have to admit you can't live with the rest of Hashems children... It's the ones who scram the loudest, like yourself, who know they can't get to the US...so migrate to where you originally came from...it certainly wasn't Palestine... TATA

Israel shouldn´t negotiate with a person that only represents himself, but only with a palestinian leader that´s democraticly elected. If the israeli government don´t understand that, then they better resign.

You sure got the wrong end of the stick. Nope, I do not ''scram'' - I have no desire to live in the US, not now, not ever. Right, not Palestine, but Israel is where I originally come from. living with ''the rest of Hashems children, does not bother me 1 iota. A shrink you will never be!

Israel is ruled by a government with the monopoly on violence. A government decision is binding, no matter how unpopular or how illegal. The Arabs have a true democracy: anyone can use violence and any unpopular decision can trigger a civil war. If Abbas made an agreement with Israel, he would need a massive majority of around 90% willing to fight to the death to impose the agreement on any dissenters. Since in fair and free elections, Abbas (as head of Fatah) would get 20-30% of the popular vote using American/European money to buy votes, while Hamas would get 60%-70%, even if Abbas wanted peace there won't be.

Three years ago Assad, Gaddaffi and Mubarak were unanimously declared as the great and legitimate leaders of their countries, and anyone who said different was silenced. Abbas, Abdullah of Jordan, and the Saudis are no different. They are all anglo-american puppets soon to be flushed down the sewers of history.