Jerusalem: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he will not run for Presidential election as he is frustrated over lack of progress with Israel on peacemaking, delivering a major blow to the US' Middle East peace efforts.
"I informed the Central Fatah committee that I am not interested in presenting my candidacy for the upcoming Presidency, and this decision is not meant for tactical
purposes or manipulation," Abbas, whose popularity is at its lowest level, said in a televised speech.
Despite efforts by fellow Fatah officials to persuade him to fight the elections expected to be held in January next year, Abbas said that his decision was "neither reversible nor
debatable".
Citing reasons for his decision, which is bound to have a deep impact on the stability of the region, the Palestinian leader whose rule saw his party and the Palestinian Authority
losing control of the Gaza Strip and division of Palestinian territory ruled by two different factions, Abbas blamed Israel and rival militant faction Hamas for the current impasse.
"We obligated to, along with the Israelis and with the international community's support, to strive for a two-state solution and we made great sacrifices, yet the Israeli
government is adopting a policy that ruins all peace efforts," the 74-year-old leader said.
Coming down heavily on Islamist Hamas, which vanquished PA forces in June 2007 in pitched street battles taking control of the Gaza Strip, Abbas claimed that while he
delivered on his pledges for Palestinian unity "despite the pain it brought", the rival faction thwarted all reconciliation attempts.
"Hamas first relied on Goldstone, and then turned to other excuses, while not signing the latest reconciliation document and keeping our people under siege," he said.
"Isn't it time for Hamas' leadership to stop cooperating with external agenda and pay attention to the Palestinian people's interest?", Abbas questioned.
"With its policy, Hamas prompts the killing of dozens of Palestinians and boosts the 'no partner' argument on the other side," he emphasised.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri responded to Abbas' announcement by saying that his reluctance to run for re-election was a message of reproach to his friends, the Americans and the Israelis.
"We advice him to face the Palestinian people and tell them frankly that the path of negotiations has failed. Halt negotiations with the occupation and take practical steps
toward reconciliation," he said.
Cornered by intense public criticism at home and around the Arab world on his zigzagging on the Goldstone report condemning Israel for war crimes, Jerusalem's reluctance to agree to total settlement freeze and a surprising praise for Israeli settlement policy by America as "unprecedented concession" are considered to have pushed the Palestinian leader to make the decision.
Meanwhile, the Fatah movement was expected to hold a march in Ramallah that will urge Abbas to reverse his retirement decision and run for the election.
Bureau Report