SUMMARY
by Rami G. Khouri, The Daily Star, Lebanon
Credible press reports and recent hints by Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas indicate that Abbas will soon unveil a diplomatic initiative aimed at achieving Palestinian statehood and the end of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
The most serious flaw about this initiative is that it does not seem to build on the single most critical imperative for the Palestinians today, which is to cement the national unity that was so visible during the recent Gaza war.
Abbas’ initiative shows no signs of being based on any such consensus, and there are absolutely no indications that any of these ideas have been discussed among, or ratified by, the millions of Palestinians whom Abbas is supposed to represent. Abbas also does not seem willing to draw on the many good ideas and valuable mobilizing potential that Palestinian activists and professionals all over the region and the world can offer in the service of their national cause.
The Gaza war’s many negative aspects were offset by the positive display of national unity that clearly was an asset for the Palestinian negotiators in Cairo.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2014/Sep-03/269381-mahmoud-abbas-should-exploit-palestinian-unity-more.ashx#ixzz3CF5pEcaK
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Categories: Arab World, Asia, Gaza, Palestine