Next Year, Abbas Choosing Retirement

President of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas, said he would not get ahead in the presidential election, Thursday, November 5, 2009. This announcement opens opportunities for other candidates, including the militant group Hamas, to lead the Palestinians in the future.
Former member of parliament at the same time Israeli peace activist, Yossi Sarid Abbas deplored this decision. "This almost certainly means we will enter a period of extremist government," he said.
Abbas claimed this decision because it failed to resume peace talks with Israel. Late last month, Abbas has also been mentioned will not be contesting the presidential election to be held next January to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United States (U.S.), Hillary Rodham Clinton.
But Abbas interesting decision after the U.S. President, Barack Obama, contacted her and confirmed the U.S. commitment to Middle East peace. Sources in government said Abbas returned back and not told Obama.
Another source revealed that Abbas was disappointed because the U.S. refused to compel Israel to stop occupying and building in the West Bank. Abbas is also not satisfied with the attitude of Clinton that seem partial to Israel on a visit to the Middle East, last weekend.
Abbas insisted that he would not resume negotiations until Israel stops building. But this fear can create a Fatah lost the elections and Hamas took over the government. If that happens, peace talks will be stalled because Hamas refuses total two-state solution supported Fatah. Hamas does not recognize Israel's existence.
Abbas led the Palestine since the death of Yasser Arafat, 2004. The leaders of the Western world regard him as a moderate figure because he gave freedom to the prime minister Salam Fayyad to reform the economy of the West Bank.
Abbas's successor is the strongest candidate Marwan Barghouti who was serving a life sentence since 2002 in an Israeli jail for his involvement in Palestinian attacks on Israel.But Barghouti claimed to be able to run the government from behind the cell.
The popularity of one of the officials of the West Bank has been increased after he refused to be tried in Israeli courts. Barghouti had campaigned to follow the 2004 presidential election but resigned at the insistence of the Fatah leader. This time, the person close to Barghouti declared he will not back down.
The other Fatah officials are expected to propose Nasser al-Kidwa in the presidential election. He had been a Palestinian representative to the United Nations (UN) and not related to corruption. Al-Kidwa also has the added advantage of a nephew of Arafat.
Another potential candidate is Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah official in Gaza.Currently serves on the board Dahlan Fatah decision makers. But allegations of corruption marred his career.
Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu pleaded not believe Abbas will retire.  "His speech was not for the Palestinians alone. His words were intended primarily to U.S. and international community support in the election," said Nunu.