Abbas pledges to follow Arafat policies

Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas received a warm welcome in his first public campaign rally, generating some excitement for the low-key politician’s effort to succeed Yasser Arafat.

About 4,000 supporters filled Jericho’s soccer stadium yesterday for the event, which comes ahead of the January 9 presidential election.

In the speech, he repeated the main themes of his campaign: continuing Arafat’s efforts toward an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem; a fair solution for Palestinian refugees displaced after Israeli independence in 1948 and a plea for Palestinian unity.

“We are all children of this nation. We must say no to Palestinian fighting and no to internal conflict,” he said, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Israel is quietly backing Abbas, who is the clear front-runner in opinion polls. Israel considers Abbas, who has spoken out against violence, to be a moderate pragmatist.

However, with his constant references to Arafat’s legacy, Israelis are wondering if Abbas is trying to trade on Arafat’s popularity, or whether, once in office, he will be as uncompromising as his predecessor. Israel refused to deal with Arafat, charging he was involved in attacks against Israelis.

Abbas’ only reference to anti-Israel violence Tuesday was indirect – saying the only way to achieve Palestinian goals is through negotiations.

“We choose peace negotiations as the path toward our rights,” he said. “We do not want more than our rights.” In previous speeches, he has openly criticised attacks as counterproductive.

In a show of faith toward Abbas, the US government transferred $20m (€14.7m) in cash to the Palestinian Authority. A government statement issued yesterday said the transfer underlines “US confidence in the Palestinian Authority’s reform program.”

International donors provide the Palestinians nearly $1bn (€734m) in assistance each year, although before Arafat’s death, donors were hesitant to transfer cash because of corruption charges and Arafat’s refusal to approve reforms.

Abbas continued his campaign schedule today with a stop in the West Bank town of Tulkarem. Roughly 4,000 people gathered at a stadium ahead of his arrival, many holding pictures of Abbas and Arafat.

Although he is favoured to win the presidential vote, Abbas lacks the popular appeal of Arafat, and the excitement he generated in Jericho and Tulkarem could give his candidacy a boost of legitimacy. Arafat died on November 11 in a French hospital.

According to most opinion polls, Abbas is running well ahead of his closest competitor, human rights campaigner Mustafa Barghouti.

Today, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a small hard-line faction, endorsed Barghouti.

The announcement was made at a news conference by the group’s leader, Ahmed Saadat, who spoke by telephone from a Palestinian jail. Saadat is being held under US and British supervision for his alleged role in the assassination of an Israeli Cabinet minister in 2001.

Barghouti told the news conference he was honoured by the endorsement.

Palestinian election organisers on Tuesday announced plans to prevent fraud in election, the first presidential vote in nine years.

Ammar Dwaik, a top official in the Central Election commission, said voters’ hands will be stamped with indelible ink, and ballot boxes will be locked with numbered seals. “We made every effort possible to make sure that there will be no double voting, no fraud,” he said.

About 80 international observers will watch polling stations in the West Bank and Gaza.

The 1996 election was held without major disruptions or allegations of fraud. Arafat won by a landslide, defeating a relatively unknown social worker.