President
Obama presides over what has been described as a
forced
handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
and
Palestinian President Abbas in New York, Sept. 22.
Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria
Like Israelis, It's Time for Palestinians
to 'Anger' Obama
"Abbas
knows that his photo with Netanyahu, an 'ethnic cleanser' authorized by
'civilization,' will not improve his popularity among Palestinians. … the only
risk of refusing would have been angering the U.S. administration. But this
could hardly be considered a 'risk.' On the contrary, it was necessary to 'anger' Obama."
By K. Selim
Translated By
Juliet Fox
September 26,
2009
Algeria - Le Quotidien
d’Oran- Original Article (French)
They
needed a photo, and they got a photo. Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu and
Mahmoud Abbas posed together for a photo in New York. One can easily imagine
the false legend this was meant to suggest: that the peace process still
exists. Of the three who posed, the head of the very problematic “Palestinian
Authority” has the most to lose. He and his aides made it known that they
wouldn't meet Netanyahu just for a photo-op. And yet he posed for the sad picture.
Of course, it was difficult to deny the American administration that insisted
upon it.
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WORLDMEETS.US
But
we know all too well the trivial reasons behind the photo. The Western
democracies have succeeded in making the perverse decision that, in the Arab
world, they and not the ballot box are the purveyors of legitimacy.
Mahmoud
Abbas, whose party was defeated at the polls and who is de facto but not
de jure president - his mandate having expired - knows this. He knows
that his photo with Netanyahu, an “ethnic cleanser” authorized by
“civilization,” will not improve his popularity among Palestinians. But like
other Arab leaders, he has fully accepted the idea that it's not the
Palestinians who count, but the Westerners and in particular, the Americans.
The modus operandi is well established: all one has to do is pose as an
enemy of Islamism. Electorally speaking, a photo with an Israeli Prime Minister
who has made it clear to Barack Obama that he will continue to colonize
Palestinian territory and who will never accept anything but Bantustans while conceding to
call them a “State,” is disastrous.
'A BRINGING TOGETHER'
[Het
Parool, The Netherlands]
But
since the electoral victory of Hamas and the “civilized” encirclement of
Palestinian voters that ensued, we've been enlightened to the fact that elections
don't count for much when it comes to the Arab world.
Could
Mahmoud Abbas have refused to take part in this manipulated photo?
Theoretically, yes. He is indeed the leader of Fatah, “Movement for the Liberation
of Palestine.” The last Fatah Congress - held in the “occupied territory,”
which constitutes a somewhat encouraging first - raised the idea that even if
it's necessary to move toward negotiation, it reserves the fundamental right to
resistance. To have refused to have his picture taken with Benjamin Netanyahu
would have been a sign of “peaceful resistance,” the only risk of which would
have been angering the American administration. But this could hardly be considered
a "risk."
On
the contrary, it was necessary to “anger” Obama to
demonstrate to him that his little speech declaring a refusal to acknowledge
"the legitimacy of the continued pursuit of settlements” was far too accommodating.
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WORLDMEETS.US
It
is indeed necessary to prevail upon Barack Obama to ensure a “level
playing-field” by matching his previously mentioned remark with the demand that
Palestinians cease their “provocations toward Israel.” Mahmoud Abbas and his team
of “eternal negotiators” cannot ignore the fact that the worst provocation of
all is the Israeli occupation and colonization. They should have seen in
Israel’s arrogant refusal to allow Obama to save face on the subject of
colonization, the evidence that “angering” the administration is a necessity.
Apparently, those who have done nothing but negotiate since the Oslo Accords know only how
to anger Palestinians. Whish is why they've accepted this pathetic photo. It will
unfortunately not be the last …
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FRENCH VERSION
[Posted by
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