Israelis And Palestinians Make Peace? I Plan To Be Dead

By Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority President

The time just is not right for a comprehensive peace deal between us and Israel. Even if it is, you won’t see me signing it. When that happens, I plan to be six feet under.

Committing to the end of the conflict would mean a host of changes, none of which I, or my compatriots, are prepared to implement. There’s only so much we can do and not be ousted by more openly anti-Israel factions, or assassinated outright. So one way or another, when a final-status agreement occurs, I’ll be pushing up daisies.

I have been leading the Palestinian Authority for nine years now, and it has been more than twenty years since this operation got underway. The last thing I want to do is have to establish a functioning state alongside Israel. That would mean putting an end to official incitement against Israel and Jews in state-run media and school textbooks; establishing and running a government and economy that isn’t just a network of cronyism and a siphon of international aid; and ceasing all attempts to deny the permanence and legitimacy of our Jewish neighbors. Over my dead body, one way or another.

I don’t have a long-term solution that Israel will accept. Even if we go the route of pursuing UN action, it will only get us so far. We can make life difficult for Israel in all sorts of international forums, maybe even get some sanctions imposed, but Israel’s economy is far too important for any country to seriously entertain anything beyond the symbolic. And US military aid will continue, rendering any resumed violence by us more an issue of harassment and quality of life than a genuine strategic threat to Israel. We’re all screwed.

The best I can hope for is delaying just long enough for it not to be my problem anymore. Let my successors face the Hobson’s Choice. I plan to be dead.