By David Horowitz, Times of Israel
Many of Israel’s political and military leaders believe that we are witnessing the near-inevitable, albeit protracted, demise of Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority. And while some of the country’s security chiefs have been urging the government to adopt policies and take actions that might just avert that process, the political leadership is disinclined to do so.
The secular Palestinian leadership in the West Bank is an increasing anomaly in a region where last month’s presidential victory by Mohammed Morsi in Egypt underlines the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and its various incarnations and allies.
And while many Palestinians appreciate the relative stability and economic improvement of life in the West Bank, the absence of significant progress en route to Palestinian statehood is eating away at Abbas’s popularity.
As the September 2012 UN General Assembly looms, Abbas — who last year appealed dramatically to the Security Council seeking recognition for a Palestinian state — has nothing to show for another year wasted. He has no shortage of options to ostensibly advance the Palestinian cause. It’s just that none of them are good.
While many Palestinians appreciate the relative stability and economic improvement of life in the West Bank, the absence of significant progress en route to Palestinian statehood is eating away at Abbas’s popularity
He may have looked like a defiant leader rebuffing the US last year by going to the Security Council, but the gambit got him nowhere because “Palestine” lacked the votes to even force a US veto. Some of those around him are encouraging him to take the General Assembly route this time — to gain the elevated status that, at the very least, could enable the International Criminal Court to assert jurisdiction over matters Palestinian and thus deeply discomfit Israel with a legal assault on the occupation. The trouble with this path is that the US government is pressing him hard not to take it, and threatening a potentially catastrophic withdrawal of funding, and of access.
Alternatively, Abbas could subtly or unsubtly foster a campaign of civil disobedience against Israel — a potentially effective tool for galvanizing international support. The difficulty with that approach, as the ongoing Middle East upheaval makes plain, is that public displays of frustration can get badly out of hand — and in his case might boomerang.
He could dismantle the PA himself — as he has threatened frequently to do if Israel is not more forthcoming in its dealings with him. Indeed, he vowed he might do just that in the earlier, nastier drafts of his recent letter to Benjamin Netanyahu — a missive that was received in the prime minister’s inner circle with something not far removed from derision. But tearing down the PA, of course, would simply be a case of cutting off the very branch that he sits upon.
He could push ahead for Fatah-Hamas unity, as several reports in recent weeks have claimed is happening. But that, too, would be a case of accelerating his own downfall. The strengthening of the Muslim Brotherhood means, by extension, the strengthening of Hamas. The Islamists are in no hurry to complete what they regard as their unstoppable Palestinian takeover, and thus Fatah has little leverage to achieve advantageous terms for bringing the snake into the house.
Or, finally, he could try to restart negotiations with Israel. But Netanyahu will not meet his demands for talks on the basis of the ’67 lines and amid a settlement freeze. Resuming negotiations on any other terms would constitute the deepest of humiliations.
Many Israeli leaders recognize that the fall of Abbas, no matter how problematic he may be…is deeply disadvantageous
Many Israeli leaders recognize that the fall of Abbas, no matter how problematic he may be, and the rise of Hamas — already the majority in the Palestinian parliament, the controller of many West Bank municipalities, and the cemented ruler of Gaza — is deeply disadvantageous. Many of Israel’s security chiefs are urging the political echelon to help save the secular nationalists. Come to the aid of Salam Fayyad, some of them urge. He needs money, urgently — so get him a loan, guaranteed against future tax revenues. Reduce the army’s incursions into PA-controlled Area A sections of the West Bank. Liberate some of the numerous West Bank development projects from the strangling constraints of bureaucratic red tape.
The government did indeed approach the International Monetary Fund recently to request a $1 billion bridging loan for the PA. (The Palestinians couldn’t apply themselves because they are not a state.) But despite the credibility of Fayyad and his sometime-mentor Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, the request was turned down.
Beyond that, Netanyahu seems disinclined to come to lift his fingers to save the PA. Three years ago, he was speaking of his vision of Palestinian statehood. Two years ago, he was repeatedly calling Abbas his partner. This week, he was commending the late Yitzhak Shamir for his assessment of Arab intransigence regarding Israel: “The Arabs are the same Arabs and the sea is the same sea.”
Shamir, said Netanyahu, had ”access to fundamental truths and did not let the trends of the day sway him.” Has Netanyahu concluded that, when all is said and done, Abbas and Hamas are “the same Arabs”?
TTW Said:
TTW Said:
Your arguments appear to support the capture of the fields rather than oppose it as stated. The main reason for the capture of the fields are that it would remove the main reason that the world supports the muslims against Israel, oil money. Second, it removes the main source of global terror finance. Third, it shifts the control of oil supply to Israel creating a paradigm shift in the balances of power. The world would oppose it in the beginning until balance of power shift becomes clear and permanent. Then everyone but Israels enemies would flock to Israel for the oil. It is a grand task but not an impossible one. It could be accomplished with mercenaries and puppet govts. This could begin with an arab spring.
Bernard Ross Said:
Israel should avoid giving an excuse to its haters by not trying to capture Saudi oil fields. Because of a rise of anti-antisemitism around the world, whatever Israel may or may not do is subject to harsh criticism. It is, therefore, advisable for Israel to do whatever is appropriate in the best interest of its people. The Oslo Accords strengthened Israel’s enemies and hurt more Israel’s reputation based on propaganda and fabricated lies. As PA, Hamas, Arab and Muslim countries do not want to recognize and live in peace with the Jewish people and Israel, Israel should discard the Oslo Accord; ignore the the UN and the so called international communities’ opinions – which have been negative for most of the time. The world respects, recognizes and stands with victors and not victims. Although not always but when it comes to Israel might is right. No other alternative solution for the time being.
What to do is derived from where you want to go. For those who believe that the only real solution is to transfer the muslims, to their JEW FREE surrounding areas,the problem becomes how to proceed from point A, the current status, to point B that of annexation and transfer. The only good thing about the current situation is that it maintains the current lack of a a “palestinian” state, allows limited autonomy to relieve the cost of supervision and maintains the international financing for the residents. Israel will miss a great opportunity if it does not seize at breaches of Oslo to serve as the catalyst for Oslo’s repudiation and for an entirely contrary new paradigm to emerge. The new paradigm should be the resumption of the encoragement of Jews to settle west of Jordan river as guaranteed by UN charter; the deportation of all PLO, PA members, militias, etc which were only allowed in under the dead Oslo,the immediate deportation of any muslim who displays anti semitism, obstructs jewish prayer or settlement and inflames against the jewish state, a longer term plan to encourage muslim emigration. For all of this to work Israel must put its focus and resources toward military and economic independence. Sanctions will ultimately arrive from the UN regardless of Israels behavior because the UN is basically a corrupt “mafia”. Therefore Israel must be ready to seize back the sinai,the suez canal and further to capture the Saudi oil fields. Although it seems far fetched there is the possibility of reaching accommodation with Iran to divide up the resources of the sunni states in a non aggression pact as done before by Hitler and Stalin. Another interested covert partner might be China who needs stable resource supplies from any stable sources. Israel could be the stable controller thus bypassing the local nutters.
David Horowitz is a Leftist idiot.Why bother reading the leftist crap. It’s all Israel’s fault.If Israel did this or if Israel did that peace would descend on Israel and “Palestine”. When will those dopes like Horowitz wake up to the realities ofIslam and its’ teachings Secular Arabs are no different than extremist, religious Arabs.They all want the destruction of Israel and Jews.
Of course it will become much worse–the PA, i.e., the PLO–is an extremist organization!
“Has Netanyahu concluded that, when all is said and done, Abbas and Hamas are “the same Arabs”?”
I think there is no difference between PA & Hamas. Hamas publicly declares its hatred and destruction of the Jewish state. Although the PA has the same goal like Hamas, it pretends to be some what “friendly” to Israel.
David Horowitz needs to gets his head out of his ass.
Abu Bluff does not want to make peace with Israel. People in Israel should not shed tears over his demise.
The PA sooner or later is going to be replaced by Hamas – which would render the two state pipe dream obsolete.
Its high time Israel began preparing for that day and take steps to unilaterally annex most of Yesha. Israel cannot afford to return to being a vulnerable country with a nine-mile waist and the Arabs in command of the high ground overlooking Israel’s population centers and industry.