By Stan Goodenough
Oct 21, 2007
If efforts by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to convene a successful Arab-Israeli "peace" conference in Annapolis next month fail to achieve results satisfactory to the "Palestinians," PLO/PA terror chief Mahmoud Abbas will resign.
The "terrorist in a tie" reportedly spelled out this threat to Rice during her visit to the Middle East last week.
Israeli analysts predicted that Abbas' resignation would pave the way "for another round of violence and for the emergence of al-Qaida in the Palestinian territories."
The Palestinian Arab side is known for two things when it comes to so-called peace talks with the Israelis: A refusal to make any compromises and the frequent issuing of threats.
After Rice left the region, PA officials in Ramallah described Abbas as "very disappointed" with the outcome of her visit.
An official quoted in The Jerusalem Post claimed Abbas and Rice had held "a very tough meeting [during which the PA chairman] threatened to resign and to deliver a public speech that would cause the US political difficulties and earthquakes not only in the Palestinian territories, but among US allies throughout the world as well."
The official said Abbas had told Rice that if his "moderate" policies were sidelined, Washington would be forced to deal with a "third intifada."
Abbas had further warned the US it would have to face the threat of al-Qaida actions in Gaza, which members of Osama Bin Laden's terror group had already secretly infiltrated.