Abbas says he'll call Palestinian vote `very soon'

[oberliner]

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday he'll call general elections "very soon," signaling that he's ready for a new showdown with the Islamic militant Hamas.

Hamas, which wrested control of Gaza from Abbas 18 months ago, contends that his term as president ends Jan. 8. Abbas initially said he has another year, but polls indicate most Palestinians disagree with him.

A call for elections appears to be the only way for Abbas to retain legitimacy. However, it remains unclear whether he actually intends to hold them, or just plans to call for a vote as a tactical move, with the expectation that Hamas would refuse to go along.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Tuesday that Hamas opposes holding elections before the rivals have worked out their differences. Hamas could block elections in Gaza, and it's not clear whether Abbas would agree to hold elections only in the West Bank since that would deepen the split between the territories.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ioi_0jtO9RjMwPNRoXNCndRPRq3gD953VHJO0

[IndianaGreen]

1. Abbas is as popular with Palestinians as Karzai is with Afghans

and equally deserving of the same fate.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2. There are reports in Arabic press that he won't run again.

That would be very, very interesting indeed.

[Tony J]

3. Abbas should not run

What has he accomplished for the Palestinians? Nothing. He is in his 70s, let him retire and go away instead of being seen shaking hands with Olmert while Gaza kids are starving to death. Shame on him and on his government who embarrassed the whole population.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

4. ITA. I think the best option would be for Marwan Barghouti to run for president

for Fatah. He has the credibility to heal the divide and move the national liberation agenda forward.

[Tony J]

5. Narwan?

Yes I agree, but would Israel agree to free Marwan? I don't think so. Israel would want a different one to run for the president, it does not want one who has the chance to unite the Palestinians against Israel.

[delad]

6. isn't that why he's still in prison?

from what little i do know, he seems to be a figure that many palestinians (outside of fringes) find more unifying than any of hte current crop of Palestinian politicians (but i guess that can't be too hard at the moment)

[ProgressiveMuslim]

7. Of course he won't be released. Israel has no interest in a stable, unified Palestine.

And he'd never be a stick puppet like Abu Mazen.

What good is a Palestinian "leader" who doesn't toe the US/Israeli line??

[Kurska]

8. Merging moderates with extremists is good for israel, or for palestine?

You already said yourself you don't want peace, you want national liberation. That really is a funny concept national liberation, what exactly does that mean, What kind of war will that entail?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

9. I don't think peace and national liberation are mutually exclusive.

In fact, national liberation is the way to peace.

IMO, both Hamas and Fatah have lost sight of national liberation goals.

Don't put words in my mouth Kurska. It's stupid.

[Vegasaurus]

10. The Palestininans' method of attaining "national liberation"

will NEVER ever get them peace.

At least with their current methodology.

[Tony J]

11. No Ghandi or Martin Luther King for Palestinians

Unfortunately, we Palestinians, don't have the likes of Gandhi or King to emulate and start a national peaceful protests. I think this is the only way to have a peaceful solution to the Palestinians/Israelis problem, for the Palestinians (Christians, Muslims, and Jews) to join together with the Israelis and form daily peaceful protests. This movement would require new and uncorrupt leader from the Palestinian side and it also requires a new face of an courageous Israeli leader who is willing to make compromises. It almost worked with Itifada I but Arafat came in and crushed it with his Olso accord. The crooks from outside came in to meet the crooks from inside (Dahlan & Areqeat are example) and killed the Palestinian intifada.

[Kurska]

13. I don't think Intifada 1 was every as close to victory as you make it sounds

But I think everyone can agree that Intifada 2 certainly hasn't moved the ball down the court.

[Kurska]

12. National liberation carries with it very violent connotations

Or atleast that's how it sounds to me, why don't you tell me what it means to you, method/means wise?