Will Abbas Say Good-Bye?

Reports this morning in Haaretz indicated what many had speculated since the passing of the settlement 'freeze' deadline which destroyed American credibility and the credibility of a PA leadership that had stuck their necks out for the American-led process:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas informed U.S. envoy George Mitchell last week that the renewal of settlement construction will not only bring about the collapse of peace talks but it will also induce his resignation from the post of Palestinian Authority president.

According to Palestinian sources close to the PA leadership, Abbas told Mitchell of his plans during their last meeting together.

Surely, Abbas' resignation would be welcomed by his political opponents and those who believe that the institution of the Palestinian Authority stands in the way of progress toward a just and equitable solution. If Abbas stepped aside and the PA were to dissolve, it would be an tremendous shake-up in the way the diplomatic process has been thought about since the beginning of the Oslo process.

But how credible is this threat? Abbas is only getting older and is probably growing tired of being stuck in a process that is becoming less likely to advance the cause of Palestinian independence, and is, in the meantime, continuing to dispossess them through settlement expansion, home eviction and the other daily horrors of the occupation. If there was ever a time to say "The heck with it! I'm through." this would probably be it.

Still, this wouldn't be the first, second or third time threats of resignation have been made by Abbas. There was the this instance in 2009, this one in 2008, this one in 2007, and this one in 2006. There were basically threats to resign in every year during Abbas' term and after it. This doesn't even include threats to resign from previous posts under Arafat's presidency. The perennial nature of Abbas' resignation threats would lead one to be surprised only if a year goes by when he does not threaten to resign.

Does this mean the most recent threat to resign is not a credible one? Who knows? Maybe he will actually follow through with it. But I wouldn't be worried that we are on the cusp of a Palestinian leadership change until it actually happens.

Share |