Official PA daily: Israel and the US conspired to get rid of Arafat, now they target Abbas
Op-ed by Adel Abd Al-Rahman, regular columnist for Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
“The crazy battle against President Mahmoud Abbas is nothing new, but operates according to a systematic plan targeting all leaders who believe in peace. This is because Israel is not interested in the existence of rational Palestinian leaders; rather, [Israel] wants demagogical leaders it can continue to hide behind, to enable it to shirk from the commitments of the political settlement and to carry out its plans for the destruction of the national cause.
This is why, during the term of [former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon, it resorted to getting rid of the leader and symbol Yasser Arafat, using excuses lacking any foundation. Unfortunately, the [George W.] Bush administration conspired with the Israeli government from the moment it assumed power, and the coordination between them merely strengthened after the attack on the [Twin] Towers in September 2001. They loudly praised and lauded President Mahmoud Abbas’ taking office in 2005, but when the head of the PLO held fast to the national plan, the Arab Peace Initiative, the legitimate international decisions, the US Road Map and the Annapolis decisions, they started laying ‘the blame’ on him, saying he wasn’t ‘a partner for peace’ and even described him as ‘more dangerous’ than Arafat.”
“The crazy battle against President Mahmoud Abbas is nothing new, but operates according to a systematic plan targeting all leaders who believe in peace. This is because Israel is not interested in the existence of rational Palestinian leaders; rather, [Israel] wants demagogical leaders it can continue to hide behind, to enable it to shirk from the commitments of the political settlement and to carry out its plans for the destruction of the national cause.
This is why, during the term of [former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon, it resorted to getting rid of the leader and symbol Yasser Arafat, using excuses lacking any foundation. Unfortunately, the [George W.] Bush administration conspired with the Israeli government from the moment it assumed power, and the coordination between them merely strengthened after the attack on the [Twin] Towers in September 2001. They loudly praised and lauded President Mahmoud Abbas’ taking office in 2005, but when the head of the PLO held fast to the national plan, the Arab Peace Initiative, the legitimate international decisions, the US Road Map and the Annapolis decisions, they started laying ‘the blame’ on him, saying he wasn’t ‘a partner for peace’ and even described him as ‘more dangerous’ than Arafat.”