Abu Mazen's escape:
Last week the Authority's chairman spent time in Cairo in order to explore the chances of moving an initiative into a political horizon.
Among other things, Abu Mazen spoke with President al-Sisi about the Palestinian effort to upgrade the status of the PA from an observer state to a full member of the United Nations. The land is on fire, the territory is boiling, terrorism is raising its head with more and more attacks, the IDF's activity in the Palestinian cities continues, but all this It did not bother the chairman of the authority to leave Ramallah precisely in the days of lack of clarity and fear of continued escalation.
Lack of governance and loss of control
And when there is a Bardak in the house, you can always run away to a place where red carpets will be spread before you and you will be received with the sympathy that you so lack in your people.
Especially if the pressures start closing in on you from other directions.
The hidden public protest and unrest within Fatah institutions do not give the 87-year-old Palestinian leader any comfort.
Abu Mazen "runs away" precisely when the area is on fire.
IDF forces in the Jenin refugee camp (archive), photo: IDF spokesman
To this we can add the statements of senior officials in Israel who criticized him for lack of governance and loss of control.
In Ramallah they think that the Israeli invasion, and especially the publicity given to it, only contributes to the weakening of Abu Mazen.
"You are talking about steps to strengthen the PA. First, the more you talk about it openly, the more you will achieve the opposite results. The Palestinian people want to see their leader strong because of himself and not because of Israel's kindness. When Israel says it wants his strengthening, it presents him as Its subcontractor. Then senior Israeli officials come and attack him in front of the whole world for having lost control. How exactly is this supposed to strengthen him? Messages need to pass quietly," say Palestinian officials.
Anger at the PA government.
Demonstration in Hebron (archive), photo: I.P.I
Where is Abu Mazen?
Abu Mazen did not convene the leadership for an emergency meeting or a special meeting to advise on what to do now and where to go from here, as if there is not something critical happening out there that needs to be addressed or at least given attention to.
With his two senior associates, Hussein al-Sheikh and Majed Faraj, he constantly consults in closed "cabinet" meetings, in what has become an unofficial forum for joint thinking.
The decisions in the end are made by him, but in the meantime the Palestinian leadership is absent from the area.
In the territories of the PA, they wonder where Abu Mazen is, there used to be speeches to the "Nation", that has stopped.
Once there was a leader with presence and authority that led, this too has been greatly undermined.
Even those who opposed his ways and did not agree with his moves and policies knew how to respect him.
In the past, the public felt that despite the corruption, vested interests, and petty politics - there was someone to trust, and that in Mokta there was someone watching over them.
This feeling gradually faded.
Not only does the Palestinian public no longer believe in their leaders, they also ask questions and want correction.
The leadership of the Palestinian Authority.
From left to right: Mahmoud al-Aloul, Abu Mazen, Rami Hamdallah, Hussein al-Sheikh and below him Majed Faraj and Azzam al-Ahmed, photo: Reuters
"The public will not be silent forever"
Why are many young people who complete their academic studies forced to work in jobs that do not suit their skills, while others, less talented, manage to secure desirable positions only because of their proximity to influential people?
Where are the hospitals and medical centers that the Palestinian ministers promised to establish in the territories of Judea and Samaria, for example in Hebron?
"Abu Mazo and Hussein al-Sheikh cannot understand the suffering of the residents. How people live, whether the sick have medical care or not - none of this interests them. People are tired of living like paupers while Ramallah enjoys a good life, the public will not be able to remain silent forever ", they say in the territories.
A demonstration against Abu Mazen in Ramallah last year (archive), photo: AFP
Solidarity with terrorists
The phenomenon of armed men is disturbing and dangerous, but no less than that, if there is anything that should concern Abu Mazen, it is the disgust of the Palestinian public with the existing situation and the desire for change.
The Palestinian militants in Nablus and Jenin have so far been perceived by parts of the Palestinian public as problematic philistines, but all this may change, and now on the Palestinian street it is possible to recognize manifestations of solidarity with the terrorists.
may be disgraced in public opinion.
Chairman of the Palestinian Authority Abu Mazen, in Ramallah, photo: Reuters
The diplomatic moves that Abu Mazen is trying to promote should not be underestimated.
According to Palestinian sources, the political horizon initiative, even if only "on paper", may benefit him somewhat and present him as someone who nevertheless brings something to his people.
This matter has become even more urgent now, given the high tensions and escalation on the ground.
However, it is not certain that this is the first thing that the Palestinian public needs now from its leader.
Beyond that, if in the end the chairman of the Authority fails to bring results in the political field where he is relatively strong, he may be further disgraced in public opinion.
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