Mahmoud abbas
(Image by (From Wikimedia) White House photo by Paul Morse, Author: White House photo by Paul Morse) Details Source DMCA
Indisputably,
the 80 -- year old President Mahmoud Abbas has established himself internally
and worldwide as the icon of Palestinian non -- violence. His Israeli peace
partners leave none in doubt that they are determined to smash this icon, which
would leave them only with opposite alternatives the best of which is a massive
peaceful intifada (uprising) against the Israeli occupation.
It is true that Abbas cannot yet be called the Ghandi of Palestine. He has yet to follow in the footsteps of the founder of modern India and deliver similar national results by leading a massive popular revolution for liberation and independence, but his strictly adhered to non -- violence platform continues to be the prerequisite for any peaceful settlement of the Arab -- Israeli conflict in and over Palestine.
For decades, before and after the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories was completed in 1967, Abbas has stuck to his belief in negotiations as the only way to settle the more than a century old conflict. Building on Abbas' legacy, his chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat, wrote his book, "Life Is Negotiations."
Abbas has all along rejected "armed struggle" and all forms of violence. He even did his best to avoid popular uprisings lest they glide into violence. Instead he has unequivocally opted to act as a man of state committed to international law and United Nations legitimacy.
Ever since he was elected as president he conducted Palestinian politics accordingly to make his people an integral part of the international community. His respect to the signed accords with Israel raised backlash among his own people when he described, for example, the security coordination agreement with the Hebrew state as "sacred."
Demonising Abbas
Nonetheless, the Israelis are still persisting on an unabated campaign to demonise Abbas, tarnish his image, undermine his peace credentials and deprive him of any gains for his people.
A Haaretz editorial on Oct. 4 said that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "fanning the flames of incitement against" Abbas. On Oct. 10, The Times of Israel quoted the Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon as saying that "We have come a long way to convince Israeli society that he's (i.e. Abbas) no partner."
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