Palestinians Elect Abbas

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

With a high turnout as well. Good news coming out of the region for a change.

…
Abbas declares victory

Monday 10 January 2005, 1:56 Makka Time, 22:56 GMT
Fatah candidate Mahmud Abbas has declared a landslide victory in the Palestinian presidential election.

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) chairman immediately dedicated his victory on Monday to late leader Yasir Arafat.

Although a final official result has yet to be announced, Abbas said he would “work to put an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people for they are a people who deserve our esteem, our respect and our loyalty”.

He also vowed not to forget “all the other martyrs, those who have been wounded as well the 11,000 prisoners behind in Israeli jails”.

Exit polls showed on Monday he won some 65% of the vote - as high as any had predicted. Turnout looked healthy despite a boycott by Islamist groups opposed to his call for an end to armed resistance.

Five other presidential candidates, ranging from a Marxist former guerrilla to an academic under US house arrest, trailed far behind, with the nearest - Mustafa al-Barghuthi - taking just 20% of the vote.

One official estimated that turnout was at least 66% - a fact that appeared to quell concerns that low participation due to the boycott call by Islamist groups could dent Abbas’ mandate for peace talks and internal reform.

Palestinian election officials extended polling in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem by two hours because, they said, some voters were being held up at Israeli checkpoints in the territories occupied since the 1967 Middle East war.

But monitors said Israel appeared to have largely kept its promise to ease the passage of Palestinians through checkpoints.

“It has been a very good day. The moment is historic,” European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said while observing the voting.

2

Re: Palestinians Elect Abbas

Clinton is an optimistic person…isn’t he?

Clinton Lauds Election of Abbas As Leader

By Associated Press

January 10, 2005, 5:14 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS – Bill Clinton said Monday he was thrilled at the election of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, declaring that he is capable of making peace with Israel.

Clinton has said the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat “missed an opportunity” for a settlement with Israel at peace talks he convened at Camp David in July 2000.

But Abbas, who was elected Sunday to replace Arafat, now has an opportunity to make peace and fulfill the dream of a Palestinian state, the former president told a news conference at UNICEF headquarters in New York.

“I’m thrilled by his election because he eschewed violence, but also because he has national support now,” Clinton said. “I think he is certainly capable of putting together a coalition which will make peace, which may even extend beyond the PLO, to the other groups.”

Abbas was one of the first top PLO officials to recognize Israel and led Palestinian negotiators in peace talks in the 1990s where he got to know Clinton.

“I think he’s a very good man and I think he’s got a team of very able people,” Clinton said. “I think he was clearly the choice of a vast majority of his constituents, and I think all that is to the good.”

3

Re: Palestinians Elect Abbas

And why not? Abbas has accepted Israel, wants to end the violence, and won the majority of the vote with high voter turnout giving him the mandate to do just that.

4

Re: Palestinians Elect Abbas

yeah rite…it is not that simple dude…Public from pak and india also want friendship but you know the reality…same is true abt palestine and israel…hardliners from both side will start their own drama now…

5

Re: Palestinians Elect Abbas

It's already on. Today in CNN they had Jimbo Carter, and he was saying that one of the proposals which is OK'd by U.S, and some other states (UK, FR etc I think) is in front of Israel, first they objected that they didn't want to deal with Yassir, now they came up with 14 point ammendment. Mind you the Israelis and Palestinians worked on this proposal with the other countries moderating. So in other words Israelis are doubting their own work now.

6

Re: Palestinians Elect Abbas

there you go…

7

Re: Palestinians Elect Abbas

No ****, it's not going to be simple? You're kidding right?

Arafat = no peace , Arafat is dead. The equation has changed, will the answer? Who knows, wait and see.

8

Re: Palestinians Elect Abbas

Before you know it these two could be opening an ice cream shop together and making money off hot stinky tourists.

…
Sharon to call to congratulate Abbas, set meeting

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was planning to telephone Palestinian president-elect Mahmoud Abbas today to congratulate him on Sunday’s election victory. Government sources in Jerusalem said on Monday that arrangements were being made for a meeting between Abbas and Sharon in the coming days.

Abbas said on Monday that Palestinians “extend our hands to our neighbors. We are ready for peace, peace based on justice. We hope that their response will be positive,” and he called for a resumption of peace talks based on the internationally-backed road map peace plan.