Abbas Promises to “Drop Bombshell” on General Assembly

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to take his turn addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday after having warned that his remarks would include a “bombshell.” Observers trying to predict what that might mean offer guesses ranging from the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority to submission of his resignation to scheduling a date for elections. Regardless of what Abbas actually says, the reality is that he is not wrong in his assessment that the world is less interested in the Palestinian issues this year than in years past. He was reportedly angry when President Obama failed to even mention the word “Palestine” in his speech to the General Assembly, but Egyptian President Al-Sissi did address the conflict in his speech, saying the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital would eliminate one of the most dangerous pretexts for extremism and terror. But in 2015, the Middle East dance card is filled with issues related to the Syrian civil war and the refugee crisis it has spawned; the American-led coalition’s apparent inability to stem the march across Syria, Iraq and now other Mideastern nations by ISIS; and most recently, the return of Russian military’s expanding presence and influence in the region. Abbas faces the world body knowing that the most recent polling back home shows a strong majority of Palestinians believe it’s time for him to step aside. Nevertheless, the world cannot remain aloof altogether with tension between the Palestinians and Israel rapidly spiraling out of control. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will have his turn on the General Assembly podium on Thursday. Abbas will have a moment of consolation on Wednesday when the Palestinian flag is raised above the UN for the first time in a rose garden ceremony presided over by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas speaks at the 69th United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2014. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)