Arafat's successor - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Mephisto2 · 01-09-2005, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Arafat's successor to adopt moderate approach
January 10, 2005 - 8:16AM

Mahmoud Abbas, the man who exit polls said overwhelmingly won yesterday's Palestinian presidential election, is a demonstrated pragmatist who opposes violence but who can still be expected to drive hard bargains in any future peace talks with Israel.

Long the No.2 man in the Palestinian hierarchy after the late Yasser Arafat, the 69-year-old Abbas is well liked both at home and abroad despite a gray, businesslike image that always stood in sharp contrast to Arafat's theatrics.

Three respected exit polls had Abbas winning between 66 and 70 per cent of the vote. Final results were expected today.

On the campaign trail before yesterday's victory, Abbas stuck by his at times less than popular stance that the armed uprising against Israel should end.

However, he repeatedly called for a return of all Palestinian refugees to their original homes - a deal breaker for Israel - allowed himself to be hoisted aloft by militant gunmen and at one point referred to Israel as "the Zionist enemy".

All in all, though, Abbas's longtime support of dialogue and a negotiated, two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is expected to bode well for Middle East peace despite enormous challenges such as the need to rein in violent militants.

Abbas's relationship with Arafat, who died on November 11, was stormy, culminating with his angry resignation as Arafat's prime minister in September 2003 after just four months in office.

The two men later made amends and Abbas emerged as a unifying force among Palestinians as Arafat lay dying in a Paris hospital.

Born in 1935 in the ancient city of Safed, in what is now Israel, Abbas and his family fled to Syria during the upheavals that accompanied the Jewish state's creation in 1948.

Colleagues say that experience shaped his world view, turning Abbas into a pragmatist intent on finding a solution with Israel that would end his people's suffering.

Abbas, popularly known as Abu Mazen, became involved with Palestinian underground groups in his 20s and helped found the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1964. He distanced himself from terror activities, remaining in Syria when the PLO moved its base to Lebanon in the 1970s.

He became one of the first top PLO officials to recognise Israel and led Palestinian negotiators in peace talks in the 1990s. He returned to the Palestinian territories in 1995, as a result of interim peace deals, and was made secretary-general of the PLO's executive committee in 1996.

He held several secret meetings with then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak between 1999 and 2001 and met once with the current prime minister Ariel Sharon.

Abbas, a devout Muslim, avoided the spotlight for much of his career and was criticised for being removed from ordinary Palestinians.

"He was not a leader and not a hero and not a symbol and not a fighter," said Madhi Abdul Hadi of the Palestinian Academic Society in Jerusalem.

"He never carried a gun in his life. He never ran for elections in his life."

Abdul Hadi added, however, that he believes Abbas had undergone a transformation during the campaign, becoming closer to the people.

"I don't see him weak now because he's reflecting the pulse of the street. He's speaking the language of everybody."

On the campaign trail, Abbas had made it clear that he would not back down from key Palestinian demands such as the return of refugees, the release of 7,000 prisoners in Israeli jails and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital.

"If (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon thinks that because he is a moderate and polite, he will back down from national principles, he is mistaken," said Arab-Israeli legislator Ahmed Tibi.

Abbas is married and has two grown sons.

AP

All things considered, it looks like the Palestinians had a relatively successful and peaceful election. Let's hope that Abbass lives up to expectations and takes a more engaging, pragmatic and peaceful approach towards the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

Let's also hope he doesn't end up as corrupt as Arafat.

Mr Mephisto

Willravel · 01-10-2005, 12:00 AM

I pray this is a new step towards peace and freedom for the Palestinian people. The last time I visited my friends there, I was shocked to see towns surrounded by walls. It broke my heart when a pregnate woman was not allowed to go to the hospital because it was not the 45 minutes a day that people could leave her town. I know that many people, both Palestinian and Isreali, have been killed. I'd prefer to see this resolved with no interfierence from the west (as we really haven't helped a whole lot in the past). If they can come to an understanding that is mutually benificial and acceptable, there can be a real chance for not only peace, but cooperation and integration. I'd be relieved and overjoyed to see Palestinians and Isrealis working together.

TheKak · 01-10-2005, 05:05 AM

Call me pessimistic, but I don't think it will change anything. There are always talks, and sometimes it APPEARS that ground is being made, but it always goes back to the killing. They have been killing each other for too long, it will take a more radical change than this to make something REALLY happen.

powerclown · 01-10-2005, 12:28 PM

A loud, clear and historic refutation of violence and terrorism by the Palestinean people. I hope the good people of Iraq have been watching carefully, and, like the Palestineans, demand an end to the chaos and anarchy being spread by their misguided bretheren. I wonder what OBL and the rest of al-Qaeda are thinking of this election...a bit of poison wind taken from their sails, perhaps...

Bravo, and best of luck to Mr. Abbas, his government, and his people.

ARTelevision · 01-10-2005, 12:35 PM

Have to hope for the best on this one, I'd think. No reason to doubt it until something changes and gives one reason to do so...

ObieX · 01-10-2005, 01:06 PM

I look at the entire situation and think ANYTHINg... just ANYTHIHG could be a help to this. Now is the time to accomplish a lasting peace if there ever was one. Israel pulling out of Gaza and a new Palestinian president at the same time? This could be the dawn of a real peace. Unfortunately it hinges on the backs of two individuals (the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.. both of which would be acting sort of out of the line their fellows have set). Which brings me to the point which makes me sad: the leadership of both sides is truly unsupported by the militants on either side. The officials of Israel really don't want to pull out of Gaza, yet hte action is going forth anyway.. because IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.. and its about time Israel (atleast the leader) saw this. I also HIGHLY doubt the violence will end on the Palestinian side. Mahmoud Abbas may have some sway with the common people due to him being elected, but that does not mean he will have ANY control over the terrorist movements among the palestinian people. It is about time BOTH sides realized this and moved toward a common goal of both anti-terrorism and a realistic Palestinian state (one that doesnt inclunde the phrase "death to all zionists" or the taking back of all of Israel.).

01-10-2005, 05:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
TheKak Insane Location: Virginia	Call me pessimistic, but I don't think it will change anything. There are always talks, and sometimes it APPEARS that ground is being made, but it always goes back to the killing. They have been killing each other for too long, it will take a more radical change than this to make something REALLY happen. __________________ Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm a schizophrenic and so am I.

01-10-2005, 12:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Have to hope for the best on this one, I'd think. No reason to doubt it until something changes and gives one reason to do so... __________________ create evolution

01-10-2005, 01:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
ObieX Pickles Location: Shirt and Pants (NJ)	I look at the entire situation and think ANYTHINg... just ANYTHIHG could be a help to this. Now is the time to accomplish a lasting peace if there ever was one. Israel pulling out of Gaza and a new Palestinian president at the same time? This could be the dawn of a real peace. Unfortunately it hinges on the backs of two individuals (the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.. both of which would be acting sort of out of the line their fellows have set). Which brings me to the point which makes me sad: the leadership of both sides is truly unsupported by the militants on either side. The officials of Israel really don't want to pull out of Gaza, yet hte action is going forth anyway.. because IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.. and its about time Israel (atleast the leader) saw this. I also HIGHLY doubt the violence will end on the Palestinian side. Mahmoud Abbas may have some sway with the common people due to him being elected, but that does not mean he will have ANY control over the terrorist movements among the palestinian people. It is about time BOTH sides realized this and moved toward a common goal of both anti-terrorism and a realistic Palestinian state (one that doesnt inclunde the phrase "death to all zionists" or the taking back of all of Israel.). __________________ We Must Dissent. Last edited by ObieX; 01-10-2005 at 01:10 PM..

01-10-2005, 12:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I pray this is a new step towards peace and freedom for the Palestinian people. The last time I visited my friends there, I was shocked to see towns surrounded by walls. It broke my heart when a pregnate woman was not allowed to go to the hospital because it was not the 45 minutes a day that people could leave her town. I know that many people, both Palestinian and Isreali, have been killed. I'd prefer to see this resolved with no interfierence from the west (as we really haven't helped a whole lot in the past). If they can come to an understanding that is mutually benificial and acceptable, there can be a real chance for not only peace, but cooperation and integration. I'd be relieved and overjoyed to see Palestinians and Isrealis working together.

01-10-2005, 12:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
powerclown Junkie Location: Detroit, MI	A loud, clear and historic refutation of violence and terrorism by the Palestinean people. I hope the good people of Iraq have been watching carefully, and, like the Palestineans, demand an end to the chaos and anarchy being spread by their misguided bretheren. I wonder what OBL and the rest of al-Qaeda are thinking of this election...a bit of poison wind taken from their sails, perhaps... Bravo, and best of luck to Mr. Abbas, his government, and his people.