Palestinian politics still a mess

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Another day, another giant headache in Palestinian politics. Current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is now claiming he won’t run in January’s elections. Abbas extended his term previously, causing great concern throughout the West Bank and in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

While he did not resign, he opted not to run in the January elections that his Fatah party unilaterally called.

But, you know what? I’m calling shenanigans.

As I discussed previously, holding January elections in Palestine (whether within the West Bank proper or also in the Hamas-controlled Gaza statelet) would lead to street battles and would offer a giant invitation to a disproportionate Israeli military response. Just think of it as a poker bluff, Palestinian political style.

Two quality analyses from two ideologically opposed sources: Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.

Either way, Hamas must be thanking Allah for their good luck right now. With Abbas grandstanding and Fatah’s Dahlan/Barghouti factions squabbling, Hamas and the Israelis are the only winners here.