Blogs > PALESTINIANS HAVE A REAL CHOICE

Dec 4, 2004

PALESTINIANS HAVE A REAL CHOICE



No, I am not a fan of Bargouti BUT I am glad that Mahmoud Abbas will not be the consensus candidate to be elected by 80% or more. Forget Hamas and the other Jihadists. They can no longer delegitimize the elections. Even without them the Palestinians have a real choice between a pragmatic politician who can cut a realistic deal and a mere symbol of defiance. I hope and pray that they will chose Abbas and, if they do, the fact the Bargouti was on the ballot will increase his legitimacy i.e., political capital. Who knows, maybe just maybe he will turn out to be a more legitimate Anwar Sadat?

I must say that I am impressed by the post-Arafat Palestinian leadership's commitment to follow their constitution. Rules and supreme court rulings are most useful in perilous times as the Ukranians have just found out. The best aspect of elected leadership is its impermanence.

If Bargouti loses, he should be assured that these will not be the last elections. The same may apply to other young leaders. Today's terrorists may be tomorrow's statesmen provided they follow the rules - Just look at Begin and Shamir.



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