Was It a Bombshell or Stink Bomb That Abbas Dropped in His UN Speech?

[geek tragedy]

According to this initial Israeli analysis, Abbas indeed threw a bomb, but he hasn’t yet pressed the detonator. He’ll wait a little longer to see what impact his words have. If some dramatic change occurs, he can dismantle his bomb and put it back in the attic. But if nothing happens, the bomb is liable to go off, and then the already sensitive situation in the territories will deteriorate further.

...

The biggest question is what Israel will do. At this stage, it seems like Netanyahu and his government have no strategy on the Palestinian issue aside from attempting to preserve the status quo at all costs, even as it is slipping through their fingers.

One person who sat in the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and listened to Abbas’ speech was the coordinator of government activities in the territories, Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai. In the absence of any clear government policy or decision, he is the one who will have to clean up the mess.

Not long ago, Hafez Barghouti, editor in chief of the official PA newspaper Al-Hayat al-Jadida, published an article in which he analyzed Abbas’ possible heirs. After going over all the candidates, he crowned Mordechai as the next Palestinian president. Abbas’ speech, in which he declared that Israel, as the occupying power, must take responsibility for the territories, brings the moment when this scenario might actually be realized nearer.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.678306

Will Israel call his bluff? They'll probably try the old standby of proposing negotiations without putting anything meaningful on the table or taking any kind of action to show they're serious. Will that be enough for Abbas to take his cronies and line them back at the trough of cash that rolls in thanks to their role as Israel's protectors and defenders?

[Scootaloo]

1. I dunno, this seems kind of a big "bluff" if the goal is just to keep the payola coming

Maybe one of his testicles finally descended. I guess we'll have to wait to see how big it is.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. At his age it's probably a hernia.

[Scootaloo]

3. Take what you can get, I guess.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

5. What happened to Cali?

[geek tragedy]

6. lost her temper in primary discussions, got a few iffy hides.

there's a reason I've trashed that forum

[Scootaloo]

7. Coordinated alert stalking by The Cave 2.0

[Mosby]

8. cali was getting time outs before the jury system even existed.

[geek tragedy]

4. question is whether it's an attempt to posture for Palestinians to

maintain whatever shreds of legitimacy he has left.

It could backfire spectacularly if he transparently grabs a fig leaf and wears it like a victory laurel.

Interestingly, it puts the annexationists and apartheidistas on the spot--if they want to annex the West bank, then this is what it would look like. Are they willing to pay the price for annexation--de facto or de jure?

[oberliner]

9. Is he resigning? Dissolving the PA? Ending all security cooperation?

If so, is there a timeline for these actions?

Is it a threat or a plan?

[geek tragedy]

10. No one knows, though betting on Abbas to

under-deliver is usually the smart play.

The Israelis have open contempt for him not because he's a menace but because he's impotent.

[Fozzledick]

11. I think he's threatening to hold his breath until he turns blue

while inadvertently admitting that "Palestine" isn't really a functioning state, and that he has no intention of adhering to any negotiated agreement.