memri
June 19, 2009 Special Dispatch No. 2403

Moderates in the Arab World Defend 'Abbas, Criticize Mash'al

June 19, 2009
Palestinians | Special Dispatch No. 2403

In light of recent references to Hamas political bureau head Khaled Mash'al as a legitimate Palestinian representative on par with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud 'Abbas, the moderate camp in the Arab world, i.e. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, has risen in 'Abbas's defense. They accused Iran and Hamas of attempting to undermine 'Abbas's status, and further claimed that although Hamas had initially opposed the Oslo accords, it had capitalized on them in order to come to power, whereupon it used weapons against Palestinian supporters of the PLO. Hamas was also criticized for lacking a national agenda.

Mahmoud 'Abbas, on the other hand, was praised for his loyalty to the cause of peace and for refraining from oppressing his political opponents, and was contrasted with Hamas, which was depicted as abusing Gaza residents while at the same time championing resistance - a notion that has been blown out of proportion and that has proven both useless and unrealistic.

Following are excerpts from articles on this subject:

Iranians and Hamas Are Attempting to Undermine 'Abbas's Status

Egyptian MP and editor of the Egyptian government daily Al-Gomhouriyya Muhammad 'Ali Ibrahim wrote: "Iran is interfering in the Palestinian dialogue in an attempt to sabotage it by provoking disagreements over Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud 'Abbas's status and by granting Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al equal status.

"Iran was dissatisfied that a general assembly had been convened by Fatah, which elected PA Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayadh. Political experts say that the Iranians are expert at making carpets and are also extremely patient when it comes to getting what they want. They are as patient when weaving their policies as they are when weaving their carpets.

"The plan that the Iranians are trying to weave together with Hamas is aimed at continuing the dialogue [among the Palestinian factions] in Cairo while marginalizing Mahmoud 'Abbas. In the near future, Hamas will contend that Abu Mazen ['Abbas] is no longer fit to lead the Palestinian people."

Hamas Lacks a National Agenda, Has Used Weapons Against the Palestinians

"Hamas political bureau deputy head Moussa Abu Marzouq has stated: 'Fatah recognizes only negotiations, and talks are underway to settle issues between it and the occupation. The dialogue within Fatah, [which is aimed at] unifying its ranks, likewise continues, although it has not yielded a single result on any of the issues. We in Hamas, on the other hand, are eager to solve problems, and want dialogue to be a means for achieving results, rather than a [forum] for the participants to brag about their extensive experience, which is replete with negotiations.'

"Coming from Hamas's second-in-command after Mash'al, these statements strike [me] as odd. I must ask Abu Marzouq: 'How did you benefit the Palestinians, and what advantages did 'Abbas obtain for [them]?' Hamas has the support of Iran, Syria, and the Gulf [states], and its budget is much bigger than Fatah's. [Nevertheless,] Hamas lacks a national agenda - worse, it has used weapons against the Palestinians, murdering them and expelling some of them [from Gaza]."

Mash'al Does Not Want a Unified Country - It Wants Only Power

"Both Abu Mazen and Mash'al agree that the Oslo accords are to be honored, but disagree over how to put them into practice. Abu Mazen is implementing them comprehensively, and has therefore presented a peace plan; Mash'al, on the other hand, treats them as a means for his movement to come to power. The elections that Hamas won over three years ago, which brought it to power, were stipulated by the Oslo accords; having won these elections, however, Hamas disregarded the Oslo accords, staged an armed coup against Abu Mazen in Gaza, expelled Fatah members from Gaza, [and shut down] Fatah offices and ministries.

"Abu Mazen is conducting open talks with the U.S., and planning to visit there in the near future, [1] while Mash'al clandestinely courts the U.S. while taunting it in public, saying: 'Talk to us directly.' This is incontestable proof that what he wants is not a unified state, but only absolute power."

Firing Rockets from Gaza Harms Its Residents

"In spite of all his past and present tribulations, Abu Mazen still seeks unity with Hamas through [the establishment of] a state, while Hamas is pursuing a different route… [namely,] tormenting Gaza residents. Their tin rockets, which they promised not to launch, have caused the deaths of only 12 Israelis; the Gaza war, on the other hand, killed 1,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children - but only 42 Hamas members. Isn't that the way to compare Abu Mazen with Mash'al?

"Fatah is an embodiment of the Palestinian struggle. Many condemn Abu Mazen's weakness [i.e. that he refrains from destroying his rivals], but there is nothing easier than destroying one's rivals - which is not in itself a sign of strength. Severing ties with the U.S., Europe, and the entire international community, and then holding clandestine meetings with them is also not [a sign of strength]. Would Fatah become stronger if it declared resistance and rejected dialogue and settlement? Have negotiations come to be considered a shame and a disgrace?..."

'Abbas's Peace Endeavor Is More Important than the Activity of Resistance Heroes

"Abu Mazen's real problem is that there are among the Palestinian youth some who are not familiar with his past role as a fighter, and [hence take] the parallels [being drawn] between him and Khaled Mash'al [at their face value]. These young people believe that Fatah [is a symbol of] defeat, and that Hamas [is a symbol of] valor. I, however, say: Is it bandying slogans that constitutes valor, or is it action? Peace is a great and valiant enterprise, dwarfing resistance heroes' tin rockets, infantile attacks, and fictitious invasions.

"Fatah need not be ashamed to negotiate, and its dialogue with [different] factions does not mean that they have run out of options. What it does mean is that Fatah upholds a certain endeavor, and wishes to bring it to completion. As [Egyptian] President [Hosni] Mubarak stated in his [May 1, 2009] address, peace is forged by heroes…

"That Hamas is shunned by the world does not yet mean that its allies are powerful. Nor does giving a V-sign with one's fingers mean that Palestine has been liberated." [2]

Unlike Mash'al, 'Abbas Does Not Oppress His Rivals

Tareq Al-Homayed, editor of the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, wrote: "Hamas gets funds and weapons from Iran and its allies, some of which are among the Gulf [states]. It also has the support of Syria, and acts in coordination with it - which has rendered Mash'al a [kind of] king whom no Hamas member dares to cross, since everyone knows what doing so entails. Conversely, Abu Mazen neither oppresses his rivals nor solicits international support for doing so…

"Abu Mazen is preoccupied with the fighting between the old and the new generation within Fatah - not for the sake of settling old scores, but in order to inject Fatah's ranks with new blood… Do we want Abu Mazen to complete the project of building the Palestinian homeland, and to establish ties with the world for the sake of the [Palestinian] cause? Or do we want him to follow in Hamas's footsteps, oppressing those who disagree with him, in hope of being called 'strong?'

"Abu Mazen's problem is that he is an honorable statesman in a region that still worships machismo." [3]

Endnotes:

[1] This visit has already taken place.

[2] Al-Gomhouriyya (Egypt), May 22, 2009.

[3] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), May 21, 2009.

Share this Report: