Palestinian Power Plays

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas’ threat to resign reflects a power struggle with Yasser Arafat, his titular boss. But Arafat and his cohorts should realize that if Abbas quits, the Palestinians will lose their best chance in years to get direct financial aid and support from the United States.

Abbas said Wednesday that he was not considering stepping down. But Palestinians said he raised the possibility Monday night after Arafat cronies made him a verbal punching bag. Some Palestinians criticize Abbas as being too conciliatory toward Israel and for not demanding the release of more Palestinians from Israeli jails. The complaints fly in the face of progress. Israel has withdrawn troops from the northern part of the Gaza Strip and the center of the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, whose party won a landslide election this year, has problems of his own. His Cabinet this week at first refused to release Palestinian prisoners but eventually signed off on freeing several hundred, a small fraction of the estimated 6,000 behind bars.

After nearly three years of a Palestinian uprising, about 3,000 people have been killed, nearly three-quarters of them Palestinians. The main Palestinian militant groups declared a temporary halt to their attacks on Israelis less than two weeks ago, although splinter groups have violated that truce.

U.S. envoys met Wednesday with Israeli and Palestinian security officials to discuss keeping the peace and moving the political process toward establishment of a Palestinian state. Abbas and his Cabinet must be pushed to rebuild a security apparatus that will protect Israel from attacks. Israel needs to be pressured to dismantle settlement outposts in territories that it has occupied since the 1967 war. Egypt has been helpful in trying to keep the cease-fire intact, meeting again with leaders of the militant group Hamas to counsel patience.

The United States now funnels about $100 million a year through nongovernmental organizations to the Palestinians. The Bush administration is about to pay $20 million more directly to the Palestinian Authority, of which Arafat is president and Abbas prime minister. The money is for improving services in areas where Israeli troops withdraw.

The U.S., Egypt and other nations need to keep offering financial aid and their continued involvement in the peace process to overcome the years of violence, hatred and distrust on both sides.

Abbas probably threatened to quit so he could get more flexibility in dealing with Israel without Arafat undercutting him. They have shared a complex, sometimes testy relationship for years. As prime minister, Abbas should get the freedom he needs; he has accomplished more in weeks than Arafat has in years.