Mahmoud Abbas, The New Palestinian President

Mahmoud Abbas, The New Palestinian President

  With the election of Abbas as the successor to Arafat, the ball is now in Israel's court to move the peace process forward. Arafat the bogeyman is no more around to be blamed for spoiling the peace.

The world will wait and watch what Israel will do and say from now on.

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Read here Editorial in The Republican, "New dawn in Mideast with election of Abbas"
Tuesday, January 11, 2005

One day after his decisive victory in the Palestinian presidential election, Mahmoud Abbas extended an olive branch to Israel - sparking a new sense of optimism about a chance for peace in the Mideast.

"We extend our hands to our neighbors," he declared late yesterday after meeting with international observers. "We are ready for peace, peace based on justice."

Words aren't always trusted in the Mideast, but Abbas' quick signal that he is ready to resume peace talks with Israel comes with the authority of the first presidential election in the Palestinian territories in nine years.

During his campaign, Abbas, who is popularly known as Abu Mazen, stuck by his stance that the armed uprising against Israel should end. Despite the boycott by militants, his election by a convincing 62 percent of the vote over his nearest rival, a hawkish Mustafa Barghouti, is a sign that ordinary Palestinians are hungry for peace.

The democratic election of Abbas is an important milestone in the history of the Palestinian people. What happens in the days and months following the election is crucial. Increased involvement of the United States remains one of the keys to a lasting peace settlement.

President Bush, who refused to deal with Yasser Arafat, expressed new hope with the election of Abbas, saying he would invite the new Palestinian leader to the White House.

There are still many stumbling blocks to peace in the Mideast. For example, Abbas has repeatedly called for a return of all Palestinian refugees to their original homes, which is considered a deal breaker for Israel.

Israel welcomed the election of Abbas, but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is planning a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank, said he will watch closely how Abbas deals with Palestinian militant factions.

After four decades of corruption-ridden leadership of Arafat, who died Nov. 11, Palestinians and Israelis have a rare opportunity to renew the peace process that had seemed all but lost.

A new day is dawning for Palestinians and Israelis. We hope both sides can seize the moment. They will need the help of the U.S. and the international community to achieve the goal of two states living side by side in peace.

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