Israel's Search for A Palestinian Who Doesn't And Won't Exist By Ali Al-Hail

Israel's Search for A Palestinian Who Doesn't And Won't Exist

By Ali Al-Hail

Al-Jazeerah, December 30, 2004

Israel, the Bush\ Blair’s administrations and whoever concerned with the Palestinian Israelis conflict would assuredly, be miscalculated if they think for a single moment hat, Mahmoud Abbas or whoever ‘the will be president’ yet to be elected by Palestinian voters on January 9 would be able to make more concessions to Israel than what late Arafat did.

Although Israel and the Bush administration considered Late Chairman Arafat as “irrelevant” and refused to deal with him as a peace partner, accusing him of being the motivating force behind attacks against Israelis, they seem to back Abbas (albeit, Abbas keeps repeating more or less the same conditions in order to strike a deal with Israel i.e., an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem; and a fair solution for Palestinian refugees forced into abandoning their homes after Israel occupied Palestine in 1948, and a plea for Palestinian unity).

The constant references Abbas continually, makes to Arafat's legacy, have observably, perceived by Israelis and the Bush\ Blair’s administration as an attempt on one hand to trade on Arafat's popularity, while on the other an effort by Abbas merely, for the purposes of domestic consumption.

If they expect Abbas once in office, he will be compromising further down to the Israelis demands unlike his predecessor they are undoubtedly out of their minds and completely, misjudging the character of Mahmoud Abbas.

When Late Arafat appointed Abbas as a Prime Minister almost a year before he passed away, Abbas managed to convince all Palestinian factions to withhold operations against Israelis and he remarkably, succeeded.

For 54 days all actions by Palestinian groups against Israelis including the occupation forces were ceased for the sake of giving Israel the benefit of the doubt and more to the point, to help Abbas in his task to negotiate with Israel.

Israel and the Bush Administration though, in public welcomed Abbas assignment and promised to assist him in any way possible, Israel responded to Mahmoud Abbas initiative in its typical manner which is, by continuing the already planed series of assassinations, home demolishing, massacring children etc. with hardly, no word from the Bush Administration at least condemning Israelis terror viewed every single night on global satellite television screens.

Abbas had to resign not because he had a disagreement with Late Arafat, as the rumors and speculations flew from Israelis and the Bush Administration, but because he was completely let down by the Bush Administration and Israel whose actions during his premiership really embarrassed him and made him look as a traitor amongst his people.

As the 9th of January is approaching, it looks that Abbas is the clear front-runner in opinion polls. Had Mahmoud Abbas spoken out against violence, shouldn’t be taken up by both Israel and the Bush Administration as he would sell out.

Late Arafat was also, described as moderate and pragmatist when he signed the Oslo agreement in the early 1990’s and also, Late Arafat denounced violence and spoke out against it even louder than Abbas.

When late Arafat rejected Israelis selective attitude pertain to the agreement he was put under siege and considered as “irrelevant” since March 27, 2002 until his death.

The same scenario seems to be revisiting and history quite often repeats itself. Both, Israel and the Bush\ Blair’s administrations are backing Abbas (albeit, skeptically) in the run – up to the January dated elections.

Also, late Arafat called for stopping anti-Israel violence and he also, said that the only way to achieve Palestinian goals is through negotiations in the same way Abbas has been saying for some time.

The obstacle was not Arafat and will not be Abbas. The bottom line is that Israel is not interested in a peace partner, it is rather searching for a Palestinian who would deliver what Israel wants out of the Road map. And in this case I’m afraid, Israel has to keep searching until the day of judgment simply, because this Palestinian doesn’t and won’t exist.

The Bush\ Blair’s Administrations are aware of this fact and they are also, aware of the fact that only them who can get Israel right on its toes and apply to the road Map.

Having said that, they know also that Israel doesn’t listen to them regardless any possible pressures they may consider to exert on it (if they ever do) mainly because of the vast influence of the pro – Israeli Lobby in both the US and Britain.

Regrettably, the Bush Administration likes to believe that by a handout of transferred $20 million in cash to the Palestinian Authority would bribe Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian people through him.

Of course Abbas has in mind a “reform program”. However, this program, I can assure (whom it may concern) that, it hasn’t have even one single line, that is referring to go beyond the ceiling of the demands of Palestinian people set up by the old present absent man i.e., Chairman Yasir Arafat.

Professor Ali Al-Hail, Professor of Mass Communications, Board Member of AUSACE, ASC, IABD, NEBAA, BEA, IMDA and EAJMC American Association

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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