Palestinian president sees no new intifada

[Fade]

Palestinian president sees no new intifada

23 Nov 2009 20:35:19 GMT
Source: *******


By Luis Andres Henao BUENOS AIRES, Nov 23 (*******) - Palestinians will not launch a new uprising against Israel despite their frustration at the deadlock in U.S.-sponsored peace efforts, President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday.

Israel has rejected U.S. calls to freeze Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, and Abbas -- eyeing the internal challenge from his Islamist Hamas rivals -- has refused to yield on this core demand and revive negotiations.

But Abbas made clear that Palestinians do not want to see a repeat of their 2000-2005 intifada, or revolt, which was spearheaded by gunmen and suicide bombers and met a crushing Israeli military response.

"God forbid that we should come to a new intifada. The Palestinian people are not thinking about launching a new intifada," he told reporters during a visit to Argentina.

"The Palestinian people are only thinking about the road toward peace and negotiations and no other path. We will not go back to an intifada because we have suffered too much."Article continued at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23122489.htm

[the_13th_redneck]

So violence does solve things!

[the_Wicked]

"The Palestinian people look forward to peace" yeah right :roll:

[GiladS]

Makes sense that they won't launch another intifada as they know very well who will suffer the most in such a situation.

Abbas should simply get down from the tree he climbed.

[BlackWarder]

It always drive me mad when I read things like: "Israel has rejected U.S. calls to freeze Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, and Abbas -- eyeing the internal challenge from his Islamist Hamas rivals -- has refused to yield on this core demand and revive negotiations."

1. Israel, for the first time under a right wing government, has agreed to stop new buildings in the settlements for several months, no one before him has agreed to it.

2. I was never a core demand until Obama called for Israel to stop building in all the settlements.

Here is another one:
"Hamas and Israel fought a war there in December and January that killed more than 1,300 Palestinians. Since then, Hamas has signaled willingness to curb cross-border Palestinian attacks."

From the sound of this you might think that all 1,300 where flower wielding dancers...

And lets not forget that regardless what Abbas says in Argentine, what he says in the WB sounds completely different.

Warder

[OrangeWolf]

It also doesn't mention the Israeli deaths, not to mention the fact the majority casualities in Gaza were terrorists.

[Ordie]

No need for violence.

All the Palestinians need to do is to literally drop out of the PA and become an economic burden for Israel.

[Clockwinder]

Mahmoud Abbas doesn't speak for all Palestinians - Hamas - that known terrorist organization is extremely influential and any call by them for intifada - Abbas is irrelevant when it comes to a unified Palestinian voice - Israel is dealing with a moderate (Abbas) and extremist (Hamas) regimes that purport to speak for the majority.

[budgie]

Makes sense that they won't launch another intifada as they know very well who will suffer the most in such a situation.

Abbas should simply get down from the tree he climbed.

Unfortunately its not up to Abbas. The uprisings could come on the streets regardless if the Palestinians feel they are hard done by again. If the leadership is viewed as not having the stones to stand up to Israel then some movement or another will gain favor with the people by preching la revolucion just as Hamas gained its prominence in Gaza. Uprisings after all start from the bottom up.

[the_Wicked]

No need for violence.

All the Palestinians need to do is to literally drop out of the PA and become an economic burden for Israel.

They are an economic burden already, who do you think provides them with free water and free electricity?

[GiladS]

Unfortunately its not up to Abbas. The uprisings could come on the streets regardless if the Palestinians feel they are hard done by again. If the leadership is viewed as not having the stones to stand up to Israel then some movement or another will gain favor with the people by preching la revolucion just as Hamas gained its prominence in Gaza. Uprisings after all start from the bottom up.

Where did I mention that it's up to Abbas if there will be an intifada or not?

As I mentioned in my previous post, the Palestinian population in the West Bank knows that an 'uprising' will harm them the most.

However Abbas should stop making demands before even approaching the negotiating table.

The last unilateral concession we made (Gaza Strip pullout in 2005) has left us with a very bitter taste.

[LRPV]

Mahmoud Abbas doesn't speak for all Palestinians - Hamas - that known terrorist organization is extremely influential and any call by them for intifada - Abbas is irrelevant when it comes to a unified Palestinian voice - Israel is dealing with a moderate (Abbas) and extremist (Hamas) regimes that purport to speak for the majority.

HAMAS will eventually either solely or in coalition control the West Bank. Extreme as it is, the leadership is secular, giving cause for some hope. By this I mean one can negotiate with politicians, not so religious extremists.

I'll bet a carton of Goldstar that there will be no elections in the West Bank in January...