Blame Mahmoud Abbas for Violence? But He's 'Mr. Irrelevant'
J. J. Goldberg October 25, 2015
It seems there are almost as many explanations for the current terror wave plaguing Israel as there are people trying to explain it. We’re told it’s caused by economic despair, rage at the occupation, hatred of Jews, alarm (false or otherwise) over the Temple Mount, and incitement by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Each theory offers some part of the full truth. Still, it’s ironic that the theory with the least basis in truth is the one adopted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as his main response to the crisis: blaming the attacks on incitement by Abbas.
There are three main flaws in Netanyahu’s accusation. There’s also one important truth.
The first and most obvious flaw is that for years Israel’s leaders have been calling Abbas “irrelevant.” They claim he’s lost any real support on the Palestinian street and clings to power only through corruption, control of the security forces and a simple refusal to call elections.
Read more: http://forward.com/opinion/323177/why-blaming-abbas-for-the-recent-wave-of-violence-in-israel-is-so-wrong/#ixzz3pcQpIe8X