Tobin - Abbas Continues to Play His Double Game

Jonathan S. Tobin
Commentary/Contentions
01 July '11

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/07/01/abbas-plays-double-game/

Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas was in The Hague yesterday to speak to the Dutch parliament, and, as is his wont when speaking to Western audiences, was careful to strike a moderate tone.

Abbas claimed his attempt to bypass peace negotiations by asking the United Nations to recognize an independent Palestinian state without it recognizing Israel or agreeing to the end the conflict was no barrier to further talks. Indeed, he said the effort was not meant “to dismiss or delegitimize Israel.” The Palestinian leader said it was all very simple: “We recognize Israel. They should recognize Palestine.”

But the problem is whenever he has actually been asked to sign a piece of paper to that effect, Abbas has always refused. He also continues to refuse to recognize Israel as the Jewish state, yet he wants Israel to recognize a Palestinian state. And the media he controls via the Palestinian Authority broadcasts and publishes a non-stop barrage of anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic propaganda designed to please a public that will not tolerate any peace agreement, no matter where Israel’s borders are drawn.

If Abbas were to make a speech about his desire to recognize Israel before his own parliament, then that would be something worth talking about. But since he not only has failed to do that but also has recently signed a coalition agreement with the Hamas terrorist group that is committed to Israel’s destruction, it’s hard to take this latest Palestinian charm offensive seriously.

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