JERUSALEM SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION (11/6): President Mahmoud

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 002018 SIPDIS STATE PASS BBG STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/PPD WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE, SIT ROOM NSC CMC WASHINGTON DC FOR POLAD JERUSALEM ALSO FOR ICD LONDON FOR HKANONA AND POL - TSOU PARIS ALSO FOR POL ROME FOR MFO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAL KWBG KPAO IS SUBJECT: JERUSALEM SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION (11/6): President Mahmoud Abbas announces he will not run for re-election -------------- Summary: -------------- On October 23, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree to hold Palestinian presidential and legislative elections in the West Bank and Gaza on January 24, 2010. On November 5, Abbas held a meeting with the Central Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and informed the committee members that he will not run for President in these elections. After the meeting, Abbas gave a speech announcing this news. He explained that his decision was in reaction to the US reversing its position on the cessation of settlement activity and negotiations. He also stated that he will not accept any concessions on Palestinian national principles. He criticized the Hamas take-over of Gaza in 2007, describing it as the most dangerous event that happened over the past five years. -------------- Main Stories: -------------- The local Palestinian press prominently covered Abbas' announcement. The leading headlines in the three dailies focused on his announcement and its implications. The local press noted that the Fatah Central Committee members and the PLO Executive Committee members reiterated their support for President Abbas and hoped that he would change his mind. However, the committee members pointed out that they understood his position and frustration with the current situation. Independent daily Al Quds and the official daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida lead with headlines quoting Abbas as saying "We were surprised to see the US favoring the Israeli position regarding settlements." Independent daily Al-Ayyam runs a headline that reads "Abbas criticizes the US favoring Israel." Fatah External Affairs Commissioner Nabil Shaath is quoted in Al-Ayyam as saying that the US retreat has created a "serious political crisis." Al-Hayat Al-Jadida also reports on Shaath saying that the US position forces the Palestinians to choose one of two options, either resort to violence or pursue a one-state solution. Shaath is quoted as saying that solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will allow the United States to improve it relationship with the Arab and Muslim worlds. Local press highlighted Israeli leaders' disappointment with Abbas' decision. Independent Maan News Network reports that Israeli President Shimon Peres called Abbas and urged him to stay. Maan and Al-Ayyam report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes that the decision won't harm the peace process. Hamas newspaper Al-Resalah reports that Hamas believes that Abbas's announcement proves the failure of negotiations and that trying to work with Israel has reached a dead end, which proves the accuracy of Hamas's vision, according to coverage. Maher Al-Taher, member of the Political Bureau for the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine, is quoted in Hamas press as saying that President Abbas took this decision after he realized that "Israel doesn't want peace but rather wants to destroy the Palestinian cause," and accused the US of being supportive and biased towards Israel. JERUSALEM 00002018 002 OF 003 Maan News Network quotes Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri as saying Abbas' speech was "a symbol of failure after America and Israel used him as a tool." He also said "We advise Abbas to ... face the Palestinian people and tell them frankly that the path of negotiations has failed. Halt negotiations with the occupier and take practical steps toward [national Palestinian] reconciliation." Pan Arab media and local outlets covered the speech live and invited local and Arab political figures to comment on the speech. Al-Jazeera interviewed Abdel Bari Atwan, the Chief editor for London-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi, who criticized Secretary Clinton's remarks regarding the announcement. Atwan noted that Clinton is not concerned that Abbas will not run for re-election, which he considered very humiliating. Atwan considered the decision by Abbas to be very courageous and commended him for it. -------------- Editorial Notes: -------------- Al-Quds independent daily runs an editorial under the title "Abu Mazen's Message..." (11/6): "President Abbas is extremely disappointed in the change in President Obama's position and the US adoption of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's position regarding the situation... The only thing that may make Abu Mazen change his mind is to achieve real progress in the peace process and to see the US impose greater pressure on Israel regarding settlements and Jerusalem." -------------- Opinion Leader Reaction: -------------- Well-respected Palestinian veteran journalist, media analyst and blogger Wafa Amr told us that the Palestinian public, for the most part, understands Abbas' frustration and support his decision not to run for re-election. She said that even though Abbas has threatened to resign more than once in the past, the current circumstances and general Palestinian "disappointment" with the American stance on settlements have given credibility to his announcement. Amr added that Abbas reached the firm conclusion that the Obama administration will not deliver on its promises and Abbas' announcement will either distance him from an inevitable failure, or force the Americans to exert pressure on Israel. She said Abbas' frustration was evident, as he has never criticized the American position in such a direct way before. "He's clearly had enough," she concluded. Dr. Nabeel Kassis, President of Birzeit University, told us he had expected Abbas' decision calling it "a good move" and that we'll have to wait to see what the next few days brings. Kassis did express surprise at the American reaction towards the move of Abu Mazen - namely, that there was no push for Abbas to reconsider. -------------- Cyberspace Reaction: -------------- Most Palestinian bloggers support President Abbas' decision. Some ask the President to go one step further and break down the PA and revert to pre- Oslo status. Many bloggers who regularly criticize Abbas are now praising him. Maher Al-Sadeeq blogs under the headline "Thank You Mr. Abbas," saying that this is the first time he sees such a courageous position from Abbas and he hopes it will JERUSALEM 00002018 003 OF 003 continue. Abu Sa'da entitled his most recent blog "More on America and the 'New Beginning Policy.'" Abu Sa'da describes Secretary Clinton as the White House's "Blondie," saying, "Just minutes after President Mahmoud Abbas finished his speech... The White House's Blondie, Hillary Clinton, announced her indifference to the President's (Abbas') decision." He calls for the US to declare its policy a failure and follow the lead of President Abbas. COMMENT: The media is reflecting the general mood of satisfaction with Abu Mazen's move. After a long period of impotence in the face of perceived U.S.- Israeli collusion on settlement activity, Goldstone manipulations, home evictions in Jerusalem, and Temple Mount incitement, this was the least Abu Mazen could do - even if the ramifications remain unclear. RUBINSTEIN