Incomprehension and anger are growing in the West Bank against Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. As the conflict between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas shakes the region, more and more Palestinians feel abandoned by their leader, deemed inaudible and disconnected from the reality of their daily lives.
Even before the outbreak of war, the majority of Palestinians were in favor of the resignation of Mahmoud Abbas. But with the increase in violence between Israel and Hamas, this opposition to the Palestinian president has become even stronger. Citizens criticize Abbas for his lack of action in the face of Israeli actions, the growing colonization of the West Bank and the violence of Jewish settlers against them.
Mahmoud Abbas, who played a central role in the 1993 Oslo peace negotiations, continues to advocate a negotiated settlement to the conflict. However, many Palestinians believe this approach is doomed to failure, given the current impasse and the international community’s inability to pressure Israel.
Mahmoud Abbas’ silence during the current conflict has also been criticized. While some Palestinians, whether they support Hamas or not, celebrated on social media what they consider a “humiliating defeat” of Israel, the president of the Palestinian Authority remained discreet, fueling the feeling of abandonment of his people.
An opinion poll reveals that the majority of Palestinians now favor an armed struggle to end the Israeli occupation, while only a minority still supports a negotiated settlement or peaceful resistance.
Increasingly assimilated into Israeli politics, the Palestinian Authority is losing credibility among the population and arousing growing opposition. Protests against Mahmoud Abbas and his government are increasing in the West Bank, expressing discontent with the inaction and powerlessness of the Palestinian Authority in a context of conflict and suffering.
The current situation highlights the deep divisions that run through Palestinian society. While some continue to support Mahmoud Abbas and believe in peace negotiations, a growing portion of the population is turning to more radical forms of resistance to the Israeli occupation.
It remains to be seen how this crisis of confidence in Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority will evolve and what consequences it will have for the future of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and the creation of a viable state.