Israel’s foreign minister calls for help in ousting Palestinian president

[oberliner]

JERUSALEM — Israel’s foreign minister urged the international community to help oust Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas whose policies he called “an obstacle to peace” in a letter released Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman wrote to the Quartet of Mideast mediators — the U.S., the U.N., the EU and Russia — this week calling for new elections in the Palestinian Authority in order to replace Abbas, accusing the Palestinian Authority of being “a despotic government riddled with corruption.”

“Despite Mr. Abbas’ delays, general elections in the Palestinian Authority should be held and a new, legitimate, hopefully realistic leadership should be elected” he wrote. “Only such a leadership can bring progress with Israel. We must maximize the holding of new elections in the PA alongside the tremendous changes in the Arab world, in order to bring a serious change between Israel and the Palestinians.”

Abbas’ spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdeneh, rejected Lieberman’s statement, calling it an “incitement to violence” that “doesn’t contribute in any way to an atmosphere of peace.” He urged Israel and the international community to condemn the letter.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israels-foreign-minister-calls-for-aid-in-palestinian-presidents-replacement/2012/08/22/8dd10168-ec5d-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. Netanyahu needs to get rid of that oaf.

Firstly, it's not appropriate for a foreign minister to go around telling the international community to oust leaders. The international community are not colonial rulers of the Middle East. Secondly, from a more pragmatic point of view, if Abbas did get ousted, wouldn't that just play into the hands of Hamas? - the last thing Israel needs.

[Scootaloo]

2. The last thing Israel needs, sure

But the one thing Lieberman and the rest of Israel's government wants more than anything else.

[oberliner]

4. You don't think they should have elections?

It's been quite a while.

[LeftishBrit]

5. I certainly agree they should have elections!

I don't think that other countries should go in, and institute regime change, which is what Lieberman seemed to be implying.

[oberliner]

6. Do you see that happening any time soon?

And if there are elections, who do you see coming out on top?

[LeftishBrit]

7. To the second question: not Hamas anyway;therefore, to the first question, no.

This means that Abbas might well come out on top by default, unless a third party candidate (Barghouti?) steps in.

Elections are a good idea, but how are the Quartet going to enforce them, without an invasion or similar?

[azurnoir]

3. I wonder what Lieberman means by a more realistic Palestinian leader? n/t