How Abbas is prepping for expected surge in nationalist sentiment
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is pinning his hopes on Egyptian and Jordanian pressure on the Trump administration to engage in a two-state solution process within a regional framework.
The Palestinian leadership is preparing for June 2017, which will mark 50 years since the Israeli occupation began. It is preparing for a great surge of nationalistic sentiments. According to a senior PLO official close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the leadership wants to lead this nationalistic wave, which reflects 50 years of despair, rather than be led by it.
Ramallah is currently preoccupied with the unrest among Fatah prisoners in Israeli jails. Championed by Fatah’s most famous prisoner, Marwan Barghouti, the prisoners launched a hunger strike on April 17. Also, Abbas’ entourage fears increased radicalization among the younger constituency in the West Bank, driven by Hamas’ virulent criticism of Abbas’ inaction and his security cooperation with Israel.
