RAMALLAH: A senior Palestinian Authority official on Tuesday denied Israeli reports that President Mahmoud Abbas was seriously considering resigning because of the lack of progress in the peace process.
The Israeli Channel 10 television on Monday reported that Abbas sent strongly worded messages to the White House over the past few days, threatening to step down and saying he would not participate in the next Palestinian elections, no matter when they are held
According to the report, the Palestinian president’s main complaints to Washington were that the peace talks with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were stuck and that Washington had “abandoned” him by caving in to Israeli demands.
Abbas also mentioned the political damage he suffered after initially agreeing to defer until March the UN Human Rights Council’s vote on endorsing the Goldstone Report, and said he saw no chance of reconciliation with Hamas.
US president Barack Obama personally telephoned Abbas in order to calm him, the Israeli station reported.
Also on Tuesday, the daily Haaretz quoted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as saying in a report to Obama on attempts to renew negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians that efforts should center on bolstering the position of Abbas.
According to Haaretz, Clinton stressed the setback Abbas suffered in Palestinian public opinion because of the initial decision to defer the Goldstone report.
Clinton reportedly recommended a number of measures to bolster Abbas, including a request to Israel that it carry out a series of goodwill actions and show greater flexibility.
The secretary of state was quoted as saying that strengthening Abbas is critical, as elections in the PA are likely in the near future.
