Abbas Still Looking for Pre-UN Bribe
“…Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has reiterated his determination to go ahead with his attempt to get the United Nations to recognize an independent Palestinian state without asking it to make peace with Israel. But, as the Jerusalem Post reports, he is not averse to being bribed to back away from an effort he knows is doomed to failure with more Israeli concessions. Abbas said yesterday he would give up on the UN effort in exchange for Israel halting all settlement building and agreeing on the 1967 lines as the basis for future negotiations. But he also added he would never agree to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
What exactly Israel would then negotiate is unclear, because it would have effectively given up all its cards prior to the talks. Nor is there any reason for Israel to make unilateral concessions if in the end the Palestinians are still unwilling to end the conflict, as would be the case if they recognized the legitimacy of a Jewish state. But, as has been apparent since 2008, Abbas’ goal is not negotiations but the avoidance of them.”