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The Wisdom of Abbas
Captain Ed over at Captain’s Quarters is skeptical of the wisdom of Israel supplying arms to Fatah.
Instead of supplying anyone of any money or materiel, the world shouldjust cut off the Palestinians altogether until they develop leadershipinterested in peace.
This seems to be what is happening. Abbas is interested in peace but he can’t outpace his public without losing credibility and probably his life. He has to find the smallest steps that do not irretrievably alienate his constituents. This is why I liked the idea of the 10 year cease fire that was recently proposed. It would give the Palestinians an experience of peace, quiet and increasing quality of life. After 10 years they may like it too much to go back to survival.
It seems like Abbas is a wise moderate politician in a democracy, who understands that you cannot lead if no one will follow.
4 Responses to “The Wisdom of Abbas”
You seem to be misrepresenting Capt Ed’s view here:
Neither Arafat nor Abbas have ever shown any interest in anything but the destruction of Israel.
–gh
Abbas is fully aware that they’ll never destroy Israel. If only we had a shred of recognition that we can’t subdue any sizable country we don’t like, either.
On what basis do you assert that “Abbas is fully aware that they’ll never destroy Israel”? One model the jihadists point to is the “Crusader Kingdom” (The Kingdom of Jerusalem), which lasted nearly two centuries before the Muslims destroyed it. They are patient, and expect that the destruction of Israel is inevitable, even if it takes a long time.
BTW, Paul. There are a few problems with the “ten-year cease fire.” Technically, it would be a hudna, which is not quite what Westerners think of when we say, “cease fire.” During the hudna, the Muslim side is expected to build up its strength in anticipation of its eventual end, but can end it sooner if they feel ready – that is what Mohammed did, and his life is considered the model of how Muslims should behave.
Nor is there any real expectation that the Palestinians would actually “cease” fire. There has been allegedly a cease fire for some time, but rockets keep raining down in Sderot. I have seen one report that Hezbollah is actually paying rewards for Kassam attacks, with those successfully wounding Israelis getting larger bonuses. Abbas has repeatedly indicated that he has no intention of using any force he controls actually to stop such attacks. So what would make them stop?
Thanks for the informed update.
What do you see as the outcome. Perpetual hostility?