(AP/Washington Times) - A faceoff with the popular and well-organized Hamas would be a tough battle for Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, analysts say. "If he was going to use force tomorrow, I don't think he has a chance," said Ali Jerbawi, a political scientist at the West Bank's Bir Zeit University. Few Palestinians voice support for Abbas, who took office April 30 and has a popularity rating in the single digits in most polls. In Jabaliya, many view Abbas as a stooge of Israel and the U.S., and consider the PA as corrupt thieves.
2003-06-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive