What can we make of the fact that the US and Israel endorsed Abu Mazen tacitly and overtly?
Israel does not want a true democracy in Palestine, because a strong democratic Palestine means a stronger Palestinian cause. Israel does not want to see an independent Palestinian state. They want the PA to be a security subagent for Israel. They think Abu Mazen would make concessions to Israel that I wouldnt accept—not because I wouldnt want peace, but because I want real peace and what they want is interim deals in the style of Oslo. The position of the United States is very much based on the Israeli position. Israels advocacy of Abu Mazen was an instrument of pressure upon the people, who are squeezed by checkpoints and terrible hardship, including severe poverty in the Occupied Territories. All of that pushed people to vote in a certain way because they want fast relief—understandably. But time will show very quickly that fast relief does not exist. What we really need is to end the occupation. What can Abu Mazen achieve as president? I do not think Abu Mazen can achieve much with
