The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah is beginning to realize that their hopes and expectations with the Biden administration are fraught with dangers and disappointments.
The new United States Secretary of State nominee Anthony Blinken’s recent comment that the US Embassy will remain in Jerusalem and not be relocated to Tel Aviv may awaken the Palestinians from their daydreams formed after the last US election.
The reputable Israeli journalist Yoni Ben-Menachem reports that this statement has caused a great deal of anger among the Abbas team in Ramallah. Perhaps the words of Alexander Pope should be inscribed on the walls of the Palestinian headquarters in Ramallah. “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”
However, it is also important to note that the Palestinian Authority’s decision to meet the demands of the international community (especially the new US administration) and hold presidential and legislative elections within the next six months is facing a major conundrum.
How can Abbas’ authority decide to hold elections while Hamas refuses to recognize Israel and simultaneously speaks of an imaginary Palestinian state extending from the Mediterranean to the Jordan river?
Why should Israel allow these elections if some parties refuse to accept the Oslo agreement, and more importantly, its right to exist and live in peace?
Winston Churchill once said that “the longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.” The quote should serve as a reminder of the way in which late Palestinian president Yasir Arafat rejected all peace offers and resorted to violence at the beginning of 2001, presuming that the Bush administration would be more sympathetic to his endless vacillation than the Clinton administration had been
Today’s world is different from that of two decades ago, mostly because a jihadi entity in Gaza exists with deep ties to Iran and Turkey and is greater in power than the Ramallah authority.
In this video below, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, Mahmoud az-Zahar, speaks at length about how Iran was supporting Hamas’s grip on Gaza militarily and financially. Does Abbas think that Hamas will cede power in Gaza if it loses the elections?
But most importantly, Israel’s previous redeployments from territories in Judea and Samaria will not be repeated again because of its bitter experience after its full withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.
Since then, Gaza turned into a military outpost and a platform for developing and launching rockets at civilian areas inside Israel.
Rather than showing the world and mainly Israel that they deserved a country of their own, Hamas chose, after their usurpation of power in 2007, to escalate the jihadist rhetoric and serve regional agendas that did not benefit the Palestinian people, who were already living in terrible economic conditions.
The Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza in the video below reveals how Gaza was enhancing the range of its missiles to hit the heart of the “Zionist entity” in Tel Aviv.
The Islamists in Gaza focused on making Gaza a missile manufacturing base rather than opening factories and other facilities to help improve the living conditions of the Palestinians.
Just to remind all readers here, he attributed that “success” to the personal efforts of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general who was killed in a US drone attack near Baghdad International Airport last year.
The most important question is to contemplate on what basis the new US administration or Israel will approve the continuation of scenarios that pose any real threat to the security and population of the Jewish state.
The other quandary here is that some Palestinians believe that with the arrival of President Biden, the United States will exert pressure on the Arab countries to provide the Palestinian Authority with financial assistance again.
With senior Fatah leaders attacking the peace treaties that were signed with Israel, how can the Palestinian Authority expect a renewal of financial aid from the Gulf states?
Jibril Rajoub, former head of the Palestinian Preventive Security apparatus, which was funded with US tax dollars and whose members received extensive CIA training, predicts here that the Gulf regimes are doomed to the dustbin of history for reaching peace with Israel. Is this the proper way to reach out for help?
In the video below, this Fatah leader speaks in a denigrating tone about the United Arab Emirates because of their peace deal with Israel, rather than opting to cultivate their new connections for furthering trust between Israel and the Palestinians.
This attached video shows a Palestinian farmer in the West Bank crying tears of joy after being able to cultivate his land again after 47 years of Israeli military closure (land adjacent to the Jordanian border). This was possible due to an intervention by the United Arab Emirates.
To whom should this farmer send his thanks? Is it to the Palestinian Authority that continues to issue bellicose statements and promises of bloodshed, as in the video below, or to the UAE, which has intelligently nurtured its relations with Israel to advance and improve the living conditions of the Palestinians?
The statements by Palestinian leaders of both political factions will only confirm Israel’s conclusion that there is no real partner for peace, and make the Israeli people continue to doubt the Palestinians’ sincerity in desiring to reach a lasting state of peace.
There is no doubt that former US officials close to the Biden administration have cautiously expressed the possibility of breaking the current impasse. However, in an op-ed published in the main Palestinian newspaper Al Quds, Dennis Rose, the former US envoy to the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians, extensively highlighted Hamas’ destructive role in Gaza after Israel pulled out.
Furthermore, the Palestinian Authority should keep in mind that the US officials whom they will eventually meet will explicitly inform them that no one in the US government can ask Israel to accept any political entity between the Mediterranean sea and the Jordan river as long as jihadi rhetoric continues and some Palestinians’ eyes remain on the trigger.
Samir A. Zedan is a former Senior Counter-Terrorism Analyst at the US Department of State, and a former Development Outreach and Communication Specialist at USAID/Iraq. He has contributed to hundreds of articles published in major media outlets with assignments in the Palestinian Areas, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Europe.
Valkyrie Ziege says
; Of course Biden lied to get what he wants, without caring about the consequences of his actions, and how it will hurt those around him, including the American people.
Biden is the classic family abuser, i.e., The same as Muhammadanism. They’ll lie to get what they want, then blame you for being stupid enough to believe them.
Swamp-water seeks it’s own level.
mortimer says
The senior Pally official in the video above is an example of ‘loose lips’. He spilled the beans about General Soleimani’s deep involved in stirring up strife for Israel, and thus, proved that taking him out was a smart strategic move to bring general peace in the region.
ElderlyZionist says
I hope you’re right, Mr. Zedan.
gravenimage says
+1
Walter Sieruk says
With President pretender Joe Boden in now sitting in the Oval Office of the White House he now has the power to make an influence on the State of Israel as well as the entire Middle East
As for Israel the reader may be sure that his influence to be for the worst
.
It’s only a matter of time before pro-Islamic Biden fully embraces the folly of “two State solution ” of dividing the State of Israel in half .Biden may be too feeble to understand that even of idea of dividing Jerusalem as well as other parts of the State of Israel between the Jewish people of the Muslim/ Arabs is nothing but a calamity waiting to happen..
This is such a recipe for a catastrophe that even engaging such “talks” is a hoax and a farce .This is because in the so called “negotiations” between the heads of the Jewish nation of Israel and the leaders of the “Palestinians” the Muslim /Arabs the “Palestinian” leaders will speak the truth only when in happens to fit their agenda. The rest of the time the will be speaking half-truths and outright lies.
For their goal is to obtain all of the land of the State of Israel ,.Even in it takes much time and it means getting the land piece by piece. So those “peace talks” are a hoax. For the “Palestinian “leaders are employing what is the Islamic doctrine of Taqiyya . Which is the Islamic dogma that lying and deception are good things to do as long as it’s done for the cause of the advancement of Islam. The insidious scheme is part of the stealth jihad .Otherwise known as “Islamic Gradualism.” This sly and something subtle strategy of disingenuous speech, lying deception of achieving the goal of all the land of Israel a war ploy that will be a disaster if the heads of the State of Israel are foolish enough to agree to divide the land of Israel with Muslim /Arabs ,the “Palestinians.” For if such a “peace dialogue” results in a divided land, the outcome will literally be murder. For “Palestinian” leader will allow the jihadists use that land as a base to launch murderous rocked attacks in to Israel. As for example, Hamas of Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Such false hopes for peace which are based on the foundation of lies are nothing new when it comes to Israel . For example, the Bible in Psalm 55:20, 21. Reads “Such men do violence to those at peace with them and break their promised word; their speech is smoother the butter but their thoughts are of war.” [N.E.B.]
James Lincoln says
Well written post, Walter.
Israel will never back down – no land for peace, etc.
Frank Anderson says
James, I suggest extremely great care in the use of the word “never”. Among Jews IN Israel there is a faction of collaboration and surrender, who follow the Neville Chamberlain “Peace at any price” mantra. We witnessed their efforts here to “stop the war” in the US Vietnam era, while other US Jews served honorably in combat. A local doctor was a combat veteran before he was a doctor. I never heard a word of protest when following the US exit, 2 million Vietnamese were murdered, along with a million Cambodians. Will anybody protest after Jews are exterminated in Israel? That is why, for the time being, Israel will live.
Have you heard the story that Israel is the only country with 6 million Prime Ministers; only one of whom is in office at any given time?
How do you think half of Germany’s Jews listened and watched as they were arrested, imprisoned and killed without getting the publicly broadcast message that came from Hitler starting with his first public speech? The “palestinans” want Jews dead, continuing Hitler’s campaign, through his top killer, Otto Skorzeny. Skorzeny went to the area after WWII to train muslim killers. Notice when they march, how they hold their belts with their left hands and swing the right, just like the Nazi’s.
James Lincoln says
Frank Anderson,
Thank you for the reply.
And I guess that we all have to be careful with the word “never” – lest we let our guard down.
After all, prior to November 3, 2020 I *never* thought that a US Presidential Election could be stolen…
Frank Anderson says
James, stolen elections are nothing new. I had a case where there was rampant ongoing fraud between 2 brothers who were majority and minority owners of a construction company. Among other things, the majority brother failed to pay taxes while he was donating generously to a shelter for former prison inmates, and forged the minority brother’s name on over 300,000 dollars of personal guarantees. The first hearing the judge screamed “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear it!”
Following the hearing the majority brother ordered 2 people to falsify the records to show that the minority brother was compensated far more than he actually received. They literally walked across the street to my office, described the orders and signed sworn statements. The following Monday, at another emergency short notice hearing, The judge listened by still refused to convert the case from a Chapter 11 to a Chapter 7, leaving the lying, cheating brother in charge.
After the hearing, the lawyer for the majority brother advised the father who started the business, who was acting in the majority brother’s place, to fire the office manager and secretary for reporting the criminal attempt to falsify records in a bankruptcy proceeding. The next Monday, at a third emergency hearing in 2 weeks, the case was converted, as I had argued from the first hearing, to a Chapter 7, after the attorney was forced to the witness stand to testify about his advice to fire the federal witnesses. But nobody was prosecuted, much less went to jail for the crimes obviously committed and shown on the court record.
Judges dodge controversies they don’t like. Of course, so to some lawyers and doctors.
James Lincoln says
Frank Anderson,
Thank you for your reply. Very interesting – and very disturbing – story.
You also mentioned that:
“Judges dodge controversies they don’t like.”
Likely that happened when the US Supreme Court refused to hear the case brought by Texas concerning the 2020 US Presidential election…
Frank Anderson says
James, when I exposed the corruption of a state supreme court which used its power illegally to harass, oppress and intimidate me in violation of 18 United States Code Sections 1503 and 1512, using a 102 page comprehensive petition for a writ of certiorari, they refused to hear the case; after “Justice” Scalia visited the state to see what was going on. “He came to the state to speak at its law school.”
I am a federal witness. Under federal law, a federal witness is any person who knows material information and expects to, is expected to or actually does testify in any federal proceeding. I was named in 3 sworn, written pleadings filed in 2 federal courts (among others named) “a person who will necessarily testify in any hearing of this matter.” The same person signing those sworn statements obtained from a state court an order which prohibited me from speaking to any person in the world, including my now ex-wife, and the state bar. The same person filed a fraudulent bar complaint which I ultimately defeated, the only complaint that general counsel ever lost. A federal witness under federal law is entitled to protection from “any corrupt endeavor” before, during and after the proceeding, and regardless of whether he actually testifies, by court decisions.
Because of this corruption, I lost everything down to my life, an old car and 2 law licenses. But the Supreme Court did not act and left me to dig ditches, sweep floors and carry out waste. Any question why I fought so hard to overturn the results of a fraudulent election of corporate officers when I had a whole new tool box?
James Lincoln says
Frank Anderson,
Very sorry to hear what had happened to you with the State Supreme Court.
You are both highly intelligent and highly principled – and you paid an enormous price.
But at least you can look yourself in the mirror – and not be looking into the abyss…
Frank Anderson says
James, the US Supreme Court refused to hear the case where the state supreme court violated obviously and with full knowledge federal obstruction of justice law. That is a tragedy for all of us.
Infidel says
James, in Israel, decades of appeasement killed their Labour Party, now the opposition party is the Blue/White party which is a centrist party. Hope our Dems meet the same fate, and our 2 party system ends up being Patriot and Republican
Infidel says
I asked this in the previous Rashida thread – does the Oslo accords allow the PA to join China’s belt/road initiative? They should tell Beijing that they are interested, and let the Chinese come in and start doing projects there: that will show the US – and Israel ?
Westman says
Amusing. If only, but the CCP knows the Factions in “Palestine” are but unreliable career mercenaries who will never be peaceful partners. They are no dhimmis, er, dummies.
Jordan Levi says
The expression “Misery loves it’s company” it’s fitting for Hamas and the Islamists in Israel. How can they know peace when their greatest desire is bloodshed and sex fantasy? Let’s face it, the Islamists are jealous of the Jewish people in Israel and of course abroad, who can match their influence and success? Surely God’s hand is upon they and the Christian’s.
gravenimage says
Are the Palestinians’ expectations for the new US administration starting to wane?
……………
Let’s hope so. Certainly, Biden has been more supportive of Israel than some on the far left.
Infidel says
I think Biden is more likely to listen to Schumer and other traditional Jewish Dems than Obama or Clinton ever were. Except that how much control he has over his own administration is anyone’s guess!
gravenimage says
+1
Johnny B says
The Islamist have 0 respect for Biden, it’s clear they think it’s going to be a walk over now, destroying Israel. But they forget God, he decides if it’s time. They should realize this and just stop their incredible hate against Jews 🙁
OLD GUY says
My guess is with Biden’s family in power the price just went up over there. With Joe and Hunter it’s all for sale to the highest bidder.