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For Abbas, Palestinian Election is Just First Step

(Newsday) Andrew Metz - Winning may not be a struggle for Mahmoud Abbas, but the days afterward will be, as he is scrutinized by restless elements in his own party and beyond. "Up to now, he is the legitimate leader of the Fatah movement, but not of the Palestinian people," said Ali Akel, who was elected last month to a municipal council and is considered aligned with Hamas. "Believe me, Abu Mazen is in great trouble." "I think Abu Mazen is making one mistake after another," said Mustafa Barghouti, who is running a distant second to Abbas in most polls, and who rejected his demand to end violence against Israel. "Any peace settlement will not be a long-term one," predicted Dua' Nakhala, 27, who earned a master's degree in international relations at Bir Zeit University outside Ramallah. "There will be another intifada and I don't want to go through this again in my life." Jonathan Kuttab, a Jerusalem human rights lawyer and former adviser to peace talks, said, "Abu Mazen has a window of opportunity...to produce some tangible results, something the average Palestinian in the street can feel and see. If he fails, and I am afraid he will, he is going to be derided by the very same people that are chanting 'With our blood, with our soul, we will defend you, Abu Mazen.'"
2005-01-07 00:00:00
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