Thousands in West Bank urge Mahmoud Abbas not to quit

[oberliner]

WEST BANK: Thousands of Palestinians turned out in Hebron on Sunday to urge Mahmoud Abbas to run again for the presidency following his announcement that he did not want a second term in the job.

Waving flags, Abbas supporters lined the streets of Hebron to greet the president as he conducted a rare tour of towns in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, part of the territories where the Palestinians aim to establish a state.

"Mahmoud Abbas, don't step down! You are the foundation," chanted the crowd.

The scenes were broadcast live on official Palestine television, which has been airing programmes in support of Abbas since his declaration on Thursday that he did not want to run in the election he recently scheduled for Jan. 24.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Thousands-in-West-Bank-urge-Mahmoud-Abbas-not-to-quit/articleshow/5209062.cms

[IndianaGreen]

1. Abbas, President of Hebron!

He is as useless as our narco friend Karzai, the de facto mayor of Kabul.

[oberliner]

2. There were rallies in Ramallah, Jericho, Nablus, Tulkarm, Salfit, Tubas, and Qalqiliya as well

In Qalqiliya, supporters drove through the streets with banners and loudspeakers in an attempt to change the mind of the Fatah leader and get him to run for reelection in January. In Ramallah and Jericho, supporters gathered near the city center, waving party flags and banners, while others were stationed at the city center holding photos of Abbas.

http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=237891

[aranthus]

3. Nasser pulled this off better.

Announce that you will resign/not run for another term, and then change your mind in response to the "spontaneous demonstrations" of support.

[The Magistrate]

4. A Common Trick, Sir: Gen. Chiang Kai-Sheck Used To Pull It Often....

Mr. Abbas is going nowhere; he does not play in a league where people peaceably retire.