November 13th, 2009 by Zack

Al Jazeera reports that the Palestinian Election Commission has recommended the postponement of January elections in light of Hamas decision not to participate (also see our previous post).  Discussion continues over the future of Middle East Peace and the Palestinian Authority in the wake of Mahmoud Abbas’ decision not to run for reelection. The Economist debates if he will ultimately step down or if this was ploy to reshape negotiations and allow his to postpone elections and thus maintain power as care-taker.  David Keener worries that this could lead to PA dissolution and the reemergence of the PLO.  From a legal standpoint, he argues this would actually make sense, but in terms of peace and the average Palestinian this would mark a return to “resistance” over negotiations.

Yossi Sarid, writing in Ha’aretz, argues Abbas must not give up hope and that he should make a Ben-Gurion-like unilateral declaration of an independent Palestinian state now.  The new state would call on Jews living in the territories to provide their support and the U.N. would easily recognize Palestinian existence.  In the face of such bravado, the occupation would quickly collapse.

Lastly, Evelyn Gordon responds to Jeremy Ben-Ami’s comment about the lack of peace despite having long-established the parameters for peace.  Gordon argues that, in reality, there are is no such agreement because the Palestinians continue to deny the reality that Israel will continue to exist.

Posted in Diplomacy, Elections, Hamas, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine |