Palestinian President Abbas to bow out

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he will not stand for re-election in January’s polls. Although Abbas has not made an official announcement, a member of the PLO’s executive committee earlier briefed the press. The President’s own Fatah Party is urging him to keep going for the sake of all factions within the PLO.

The Coordinator for the PLO Executive Committee, Yasser Abed Rabbo, said: “The executive committee unanimously expressed its support for the President and wants him to participate in the upcoming election.” Hamas is less supportive, calling Abbas’s decision “internal Fatah business”. They are angry at his failure to take a firm stand against Israel. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said: “The Americans and Israelis abandoned him and turned him into a tool to implement their policies. Abbas should admit that a peaceful settlement has failed.” This is not the first time Abbas has threatened to step down. In the past, it is a tactic he has used to get support from the West. However, facing a stalemate in peace talks with Israel, he may be serious this time.

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