Sources indicate that Abbas may resign over US position

According to some high level sources in the Palestinian leadership, President Abbas is seriously considering tendering his resignation. The sources include members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority.

The sources said frankly that Abbas is nearly ready to resign, regardless of having not completed his term.

The stated reasons include what happened with US President George Bush during their recent meeting in Washington. Meetings with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were also mentioned. The source say that Abbas does not want to carry on with empty negotiations as Bush is going to attend celebrations for the 60 years of existence of the state of Israel and present a paper expressly affirming the lack of opposition to Israeli settlement expansion. It will also categorically reject the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees and secure complete umbrella protection for Israel by the US.

The same sources estimate before taking the step Abbas wants to ensure that internal positions are rearranged in the Fateh party by holding the Sixth General Conference of the Movement, arrange the situation in the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and convene a new session of the National Council which will be to elect a new Executive Committee of the organization. PNN