Mahmoud Abbas’ Best Just Isn’t Good Enough
By Aaron Goldstein (02/22/07)
On February 17th, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told C. David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs that he had done the best he could with Hamas. Abbas did not elaborate as to what precisely he meant by his best. But in so doing, he basically told the United States he would do nothing further to try to urge Hamas to abide by previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, renounce terrorism and recognize the State of Israel. Abbas insisted that the United States, Israel and everyone else would have to be content with the Saudi brokered agreement earlier this month that would establish a unity government between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah organization as is. Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Abbas, summed up his position by stating "the Mecca agreement was the only possible agreement and the world must deal with it."
Abbas reiterated this point in subsequent meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. The Secretary of State has been working overtime with the other members of the so-called Quartet (Russia, European Union and the UN) who met in Berlin on February 21st. So far, the Quartet have insisted that the new unity government abide by earlier agreements, recognize Israel and renounce terrorism.
Olmert for his part has rejected negotiating any peace agreement with a new Palestinian unity government so long as Hamas vows Israel’s destruction. In addition to emphasizing this point with Rice, Olmert has relayed this position over the phone with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Jacques Chirac. However, Abbas might have the last laugh. Whereas Olmert has been working the phones, Abbas has been pressing the flesh. This might very well work to Abbas’ advantage.
Abbas met with Blair in London after Prime Minister’s Questions on February 21st and will meet with Chancellor Merkel and President Chirac on February 23rd and 24th, respectively. Abbas knows full well that the member states of the European Union are traditionally sympathetic towards the Palestinians and is hoping to persuade these states to recognize the Mecca agreement as a means to restore aid to the Palestinian Authority and to put pressure on Israel. Indeed, prior to meeting with Abbas, Blair expressed optimism during Prime Minister’s Questions hoping that “we can make progress, including with the more sensible elements of Hamas.” The fact that Tony Blair put the words Hamas and sensible in the same sentence is cause for concern. To be fair, Blair did also ask, “How can we negotiate two states when one side says that the other should not exist?” But Blair might have also asked why Abbas isn’t willing to do more to persuade Hamas to recognize Israel.
Come to think of it how is Mahmoud Abbas any more sensible than Hamas? Further to this point, what is the sensibility in the United States, Israel and EU member states in meeting directly with Abbas? It is rather difficult to understand why they will continue to meet with Abbas even though he has made it clear that he will take no further action to persuade Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce terrorism and abide by previous agreements.
The simple fact of the matter is that Mahmoud Abbas’ best just isn’t good enough. So long as Rice, Olmert and for that matter Blair, Merkel and Chirac continue to legitimize Abbas there is no compulsion for him to pressure Hamas to make concessions. Since the death of Yasser Arafat in November 2004, Abbas has been given all sorts of leeway and leverage by the White House. This is especially true after Hamas won parliamentary elections last year. Yet Abbas has chosen not to use this leeway and leverage wisely. Political support must be earned and Abbas has done little to justify the level of support he has received from the United States, Israel and the EU. The time has come for United States, Israel and the EU to bid Abbas adieu and wish him luck in co-habiting with Hamas. Left to his own devices, Abbas would have little choice but to exert pressure on Hamas if he wants to continue his Presidency.
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