Friday September 14, 2007

I've Been Thinking:

In a quirky turn of political fate, the popularity of Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has risen since Fatah was expelled from Gaza this summer.
The popularity of Abbas is not just up, it is way up.

Until this happened nobody in the Palestinian Authority cared much about the elected leader, he was a non-issue.
If anyone did stop to think about him it was to blame him for the beating Fatah sustained at the hands of Hamas.
Now the Abbas name has been rejuvenated.
In a recent poll 73% of Palestinians responded that they like Abbas and support him - he would trounce anyone in an election if it was held today.
This is a tremendous political transformation.
Not only is he Abbas revered, but Hamas is despised.

The question remains:
Will Abbas be able to clamp down on Hamas?
My answer is:
I don't think so, even with his new political backing and popular support.
Abbas cannot change his character, he will continue to behave as he has always behaved and the bad guys will run rough shod over him and the Palestinians.

Despite his rising popularity, with Abbas in charge there is still no real chance for the Palestinians.

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