Opinion | Power and More Power: Abu Mazen's Threat Track Israel today

The recorded speech delivered by Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen to the annual UN General Assembly emphasized above all that if there is one move that can be attributed to the Bennett Lapid government, it is the return of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the center of the international community's agenda.

The issue resurfaced after nearly a decade in which the Palestinian issue was not only pushed to the margins, but became mostly a burden, a kind of millstone that sits on the necks of the international community and even some of the moderate Arab states.

They were forced to act in the dark against Israel for their national interests due to the knowledge that any sign of normalization with the "Zionist occupation" would provoke not only sharp Arab-Palestinian criticism but could even lead to a wave of domestic demonstrations and a public uprising that could threaten the regime.

Those who dared - led by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, followed by Sudan and Morocco - were sharply criticized by Palestinian leaders and public figures who also took the trouble to take thousands to the streets of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to further humiliate those brave Arab leaders. The Palestinian national interest in favor of peace agreements with the State of Israel.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has not enjoyed much popularity on the Palestinian streets, and Prime Minister Bennett has recently announced - as far as his commitments can be believed - that he will not meet Abbas and that a Palestinian state will not be established on his watch.

A veteran political fox

Although Abu Mazen is not as relevant as he used to be, unpopular to say the least and is at the age of 86 who was long overdue for retirement - he is still a scarred, cunning and sophisticated political fox who can teach a thing or two in the political arena to Bennett and his deputy, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

Abu Mazen, who attacks Israel from every possible stage, promises to continue to persecute IDF officers and soldiers in the Hague tribunal and calls Israel an apartheid state. Moreover, the Palestinian chief rejoices when the honorary parking lot in the Muqataa arrives from buses loaded with Israelis from the Knesset, the government and the security forces who are queuing up to meet the man who is issuing an ultimatum to Israel: either me or the court in The Hague and you have exactly one year to decide.

Abu Mazen meets Israeli students in Muqata, Photo: Michel Dot Com

Abu Mazen is in fact drawing a red line to Israel, making it clear that a return to the negotiating table and the peace process will be solely on the terms set by the Palestinians, and whoever does not deserve to drink Gaza seawater - as the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat used to say.

Abu Mazen's ultimatum in his speech at the UN General Assembly, along with a warning that the Palestinian Authority would not hesitate to demand that the Hague tribunal define Israel as an apartheid state and the chief's declaration that Ramallah work harder to reconcile with Gaza and form a unity government with Hamas and armed factions in Gaza. The route that the Palestinian leadership will follow as long as Abu Mazen is around.

The apparent outline of this route is international pressure and more international pressure.

And if that does not help, then the Palestinians will always have the tribunals and international organizations, as well as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Because what does not go by force will go in even more force, and for those who have a problem with it, who will drink the sea water of Gaza