RAMALLAH, West Bank — In five turbulent years in office, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has never faced as much outrage as over his
decision to suspend efforts to get Israeli officials put on trial for war crimes in Gaza.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.In the short term, the U.S. is pushing for a quick resumption of Mideast peace talks, but gaps remain wide on what it takes to get back to the
table. A weakened Abbas may not be in a position to make concessions when President Barack Obama's special Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, returns to
the region this week.
"This is the worst position that Abbas has found himself in since he was elected president," said Hani al-Masri, a West Bank commentator.
At the center of the uproar is a 575-page U.N. report about Israel's three-week war in Gaza last winter, which alleges that both Israel and Hamas
committed war crimes, something both sides deny.
A Palestinian protester tosses a shoe at a poster of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas The Arabic writing on the poster reads: "To the trash heap
of history, you traitor, Mahmoud Abbas."
Israel’s war against the Gazan people in December and January devastated the tiny Strip, killing over 1,400 people, a majority of whom were
civilians. The Western powers, backed Israel’s battle against Hamas and shared its belief that destruction of the Islamist group would benefit their
interests.
Israel is still regularly launching military strikes against “terrorist” targets.
The recent UN released report on Gaza, investigated by distinguished South African Justice Richard Goldstone, found overwhelming evidence that
both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes during the conflict and should be held to account in an international tribunal. Goldstone stressed that the
culture of impunity endemic in the Middle East must end the targeting of civilians and their infrastructure and the lack of international will to
fully investigate the atrocities carried out in the name of “defeating terrorism.”
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