Abbas OffersInternal Fatah Elections soasto Persuade Barghouti to Withdraw

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB4EWPA02E.html

Official: Abbas Offers Internal Fatah Elections in Apparent Effort to Persuade Barghouti to Withdraw
By Josef Federman Associated Press Writer


BEERSHEBA, Israel (AP) - The interim Palestinian leader promised to set a date for internal elections in the ruling Fatah movement, a Cabinet minister said Friday, in an apparent attempt to persuade the head of Fatah's restless young guard to drop out of the Jan. 9 presidential race.

The leader of the younger Fatah activists, Marwan Barghouti, told associates on Thursday that he intends to run for Palestinian Authority president. He has not yet issued a formal statement.

Israel, meanwhile, agreed to remove all roadblocks in the West Bank on the day of the election, according to security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel has said it will do its utmost to ensure the elections go smoothly.

Barghouti, an uprising leader jailed by Israel, is one of the most popular Palestinian politicians. His candidacy would undercut the prospects of interim leader Mahmoud Abbas, a pragmatist who opposes violence and appears to have the tacit support of Israel and the United States. Abbas was nominated as presidential candidate by Fatah this week. <snip>

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB4EWPA02E.html

[Canadian_moderate]

1. Having the endorsement of the USA and Israel

in the Palestinian territories, is about as good as having France's endorsement in the USA.

Good luck to Abbas. I hope he will come out on top. They need someone who is committed to the peace process. Violence and corruption (under Arafat) only made matters worse for most Palestinians.