Would You Buy a Used Peace of the Brave From This Man?

Steven Erlanger, writing in this morning’s New York Times:

There is a deep sense, among Palestinians and not just Israelis, that Mr. Abbas, although he was elected essentially unopposed, is a virtual president in charge of little, and that if the Israeli military pulled out of the West Bank, he would not last more than a day.

Efraim Inbar, professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University and director of the Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies, in “The Great American Delusion:”

Abbas’s record as a leader is dismal. He failed to unite the security services under one organ as he pledged and has not followed through with his anti-corruption election campaign promises. If anything, the chaos within the PA increased under his presidency. The Hamas takeover of Gaza is an obvious indication of his weakness.

Amotz Asa-El, writing in Friday’s The Jerusalem Post:

Initially, Abbas seemed potentially heroic, when he attacked the Palestinian resort to violence in general, and the suicide bombings in particular. Alas, since then he has tangoed into the sunset with Hamas and remained ineffective even when they, in the middle of their dance, stabbed him in the back.

Youseff Ibrahim, writing in the New York Sun (see Abbas Bans Militias Throughout Ramallah Porch):

The Palestinian Arab territories are run by two warring mini-authorities. One of them — spread over the West Bank — is headed by President Abbas of Fatah, a man whose powers barely extend to the porch of his residence in Ramallah.  The other, headed by Hamas, is a large collection of gangs, terrorists, and jihadist groups in the Gaza Strip. Neither side has any constituents who can make a deal, keep one if it were made, or even deliver on any pact with other Arabs, let alone with the Israelis.

Ehud Olmert plans to "insist" that any agreement with Abbas be conditioned on Palestinian compliance with Phase I of the Roadmap. Last month, Abbas asserted that the Palestinians have already handled “90 percent” of their obligations under Phase I.  Three weeks ago, in a pre-Annapolis photo-op, Abbas sent 300 policemen into Nablus to make several arrests, so his estimate of Palestinian compliance is probably up above 110 percent by now.