Abbas UN speech

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the swearing in ceremony for the new unity government, Ramallah, June 2, 2014. (Photo: Mustafa Bader/Activestills.org)

Why it may be time to rethink Abbas

There is great desire and momentum for change in Israel and Palestine, yet a dire lack of leadership to harness it. If given the international support he needs, could Mahmoud Abbas be the one to guide that change? By Abraham Gutman Last week, on my way to listen to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speak at…

By +972 Magazine September 29, 2014

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the UNGA during the general debate, September 26, 2014. (UN Photo/Amanda Voisard)

Accusing Israel of ‘genocide’: Major fail

And deservedly so, because it’s a false accusation. This is not how to fight the occupation, this is how to help strengthen it. Mahmoud Abbas’ speech last Friday at the United Nations General Assembly gave the highest-profile-ever exposure to the accusation, popular among anti-Zionists, that Israel practices “genocide” against the Palestinians, and that the war…

By Larry Derfner September 29, 2014

Western Wall (Photo: RahelSharon/flickr)

Response to Abbas: We’ll be together in Jerusalem forever

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ speech at the International Conference on Jerusalem in Doha on Saturday set off the most proverbial alarm bells in Israel. Caveat: Without actually seeing the full text of the speech, or being at the conference, I am dependent on excerpts in news reports that seem designed to reinforce auto-pilot rallying cries…

By Dahlia Scheindlin February 27, 2012

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Palestinians in E. Jerusalem watching Abbas' UN speech, 23 Sept, 2011 thumb (Photo: Eyal Warshavsky)

Did East Jerusalem Palestinians find hope in Abbas’ UN speech?

Palestinian President Abbas’ speech at the United Nations on Friday seemed to have fulfilled the highest hopes of many. Aziz Abu Sarah could hardly contain his excitement (watch him try). Joseph Dana reports elation in Ramallah, which was obvious from the live images on Al-Jazeera. Lisa Goldman at the UN felt the emotional reverberations of…

By Dahlia Scheindlin September 24, 2011

Aziz Abu Sarah and Shira Nesher talking statehood

Watch: Israeli, Palestinian talk statehood

CNN interviewed me earlier today with Israeli Shira Nesher about the Palestinian bid for statehood. Here is the interview:

By Aziz Abu Sarah September 23, 2011