Mahmoud Abbas: Can he bring peace?

We haven't had a legitimate shot at peace in a long time. So many conflicts, rockets, bulldozers, deaths and terror forced up innocents by those who do not desire a lasting peace.

Abbas strikes me as an interesting figure. Hamas refuses to work with (or recognize) Israel for peace. I think we all know that both sides need to compromise in order for lasting peace. Both Hamas and right-wing ultra-religious Israelis do not want compromise. This thread isn't about Netanyahu or Israeli policy (Please refrain from derailing the thread with such posts).

Is Abbas seen as a legitimate leader/voice for the Palestinian people? Would he have the means to prevent further attacks from Hamas that might circumvent peace? How does the arab world view Abbas?

It appears that he is distancing himself from Ahmadinejad's stance on Israel. This is an excellent step in the right direction!
http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/pa-hits-back-at-ahmadinejad-you-have-no-right-to-speak-about-palestine-1.312272

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PA hits back at Ahmadinejad: You have no right to speak about Palestine
Palestinian Authority spokesman lashes out at the Iranian president who criticized Palestinian negotiations with Israel and PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

By Haaretz Service

A Palestinian Authority spokesman lashed out at the president of Iran for criticizing Palestinian negotiations with Israel and PA President Mahmoud Abbas in particular, Ma'an News Agency reported on Sunday.

"The one who does not represent the Iranian people, who falsified election results, who oppressed the Iranian people and stole authority has no right to speak about Palestine, its president or its representatives," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh said about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Ahmadinejad addressed a rally last week at Teheran University, where he dismissed the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, saying the fate of Palestine would be decided in Palestine and through resistance and not in Washington.

The Ma'an News Agency reported that he also said Mahmoud Abbas was a hostage of Israel who lacked the legitimacy to negotiate on the Palestinian's behalf.

"President Mahmoud Abbas came to power through free, democratic and authentic elections supervised by more than 2,000 international and Arab monitors," Abu Rudaineh said in response. "We are the ones who fought for Palestine and Jerusalem ... the Palestinian leadership did not oppress its people as did the Iranian leadership under Ahmadinejad."

Last week, Egypt canceled a visit by Iran's foreign minister to protest comments he made accusing Arab leaders of betrayal for attending the new round of Mideast peace talks in Washington.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had been scheduled to visit Cairo for a meeting of Nonaligned Movement members.

"Some leaders ... who follow America's orders must understand that they are betraying their nations," Iran's Fars news agency quoted Mottaki as saying.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah II attended the talks.

 

Thanks for the response hypedhypedplaya...

Looks like everybody is just blowing smoke up everybody's behind!

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-to-u-s-congressman-mideast-peace-possible-within-year-1.312553

I'm just not sure there is enough good faith on either side.

My opinion on the matter:

Israelis must:
1. Stop expansion of settlements immediately. With the population density issues the Palestinians currently are having, it is shameful to take more land. Unfortunately, the ultra-religious right in Israel believes they are entitled to the land. This is not what Zionism is about, nor does it reflect true teachings of Judaism.
2. Make a more realistic blockade that doesn't stop the flow of food, medicine, etc. Desperation only creates extremism. If peace is ever going to happen, the 2 states are going to need to learn to be economic partners. The opportunities to have a thriving tourism industry for Palestine could only help both countries.
3. Be ready to make painful sacrifices. Destruction of the West Bank settlements along with a good faith exchange of lands that give Palestinians a fair shot at adequate water would go a long way in repairing ties. Perhaps the international community can financially reimburse Israel and the settlers living there.

Palestinians must:
1. Recognize Israel and combat those organizations bent on the destruction of a Jewish state. Just as Israel needs to end blockades, Palestinians must end the importation of rockets that only help prop up the right wingers in Israel.
2. Accept a border agreement that is different than the pre-1967 borders. Making this a sticking point only makes peace impossible due to security needs of Israel.
3. Be ready to make painful sacrifices. The right of return can't be a realistic finality. However, perhaps the international community can offer financial compensation for those that have a legitimate case that they owned lands.


Back to the article I linked... I hope Abbas doesn't walk away immediately when Netanyahu says they won't budge on either 1. settlements, 2. right of return, and/or 3. returning to pre-1967 borders. The realistic road to peace has to have both sides coming away as winners and losers on the usual demands.