A week after Gaza takeover, Abbas faces wide criticism

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is having trouble imposing order in Gaza, and he is cut off from his people by a wall of bodyguards. His government faces a no-confidence vote in parliament, and his main rival, Hamas, is parading its private army in the streets.

A week after Israel left Gaza, Abbas appears weak and isolated, drawing criticism from politicians from his own party, from Israel and from ordinary Palestinians. His defenders say he faces an impossible task and needs more time, and point out the Palestinians now have a moderate, sober-minded leader after decades of erratic rule by Yasser Arafat.

However, parliamentary elections are only four months away, Hamas is breathing down his neck and concrete achievements seem distant. It will take months before Abbas can deliver on promises of housing and jobs.

Abbas faces several immediate dilemmas.

He is under growing pressure to open the Gaza-Egypt border and secure freedom of movement for Gazans. But that could jeopardize future peace talks and Gaza’s economic future if it is done without the consent of Israel, which could retaliate by clamping down at other border crossings.

The international community wants Abbas to move against militants, but that would interfere with his plan to bring Hamas – the largest Islamic militant group – into the fold and thus defuse its threat to his political survival. Israel has complicated matters by threatening to impede the parliamentary election if Hamas participates.

Abbas’ most obvious problem is his isolation from his people.

Since the last Israeli soldier drove out of the Gaza Strip on Sept. 12, Abbas has shied away from public celebrations, including one last week on the ruins of the largest Jewish settlement. He sent an aide while Hamas dispatched its top leader, Mahmoud Zahar.

Abbas travels through Gaza in a speeding 20-car convoy surrounded by dozens of guards. Since Israeli troops withdrew, he has addressed his nation only once – and that was via television.

In a stormy session of parliament Monday, lawmakers had harsh words for the Palestinian leader and his Cabinet. Much of the tough talk came from members of Abbas’ ruling Fatah party.

“There is no real presence of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza,” said Fatah lawmaker Nabil Amr, an Abbas ally. Another Fatah lawmaker, Ghassan Shakaa, said: “The security situation is in a very bad state. Our national project is in danger.”