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Daybreak: Is Abbas Necessary for Peace?

Crisis mounts, a smaller White House Hanukkah, and more in the news

by
Hadara Graubart
November 19, 2009

• Since Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas announced he would not run for reelection and may step down before his term ends, the peace process has become a crisis situation, prompting Israeli, American, and European leaders to scramble to try to keep him in office long enough to restart negotiations. [NYT]
• Abbas isn’t having it: “If [Israeli and U.S.] intentions are sincere, then I am still here and have been here for years—they could have reached a deal with me already…If Israel is prepared to advance peace on the basis of prior agreements and in accordance with the outline laid out in the road map, then it can do so with any Palestinian leader that succeeds me.” [Haaretz]
• The White House has cut the guest list for this year’s Hanukkah party in half from last year due to financial factors; although there will still be 400 invitees, some see this as a snub that comes harder as the situation in Israel has many Jews wary of the President. [JPost]
• Since earlier this week Iran even more officially announced that it will not abide by the latest plan to delay its development of nuclear capabilities, six world leaders will meet tomorrow to discuss punitive measures against the nation. [Ynet]

Hadara Graubart was formerly a writer and editor for Tablet Magazine.