Middle East Notes and Comment: President, But Commander in Chief?

Newsletter by Haim Malka

Published January 15, 2005

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Now that Mahmoud Abbas has won the Palestinian presidential election, there will be enormous pressure on him to crack down swiftly on militant groups. Doing so would be a mistake. Urging a clash when the leadership remains weak and lacks a credible security force would be inviting failure. Further, it would ensure that Palestinian politics remain mired in violence and lawlessness. It seems an attractive option, but in fact, it takes things in precisely the wrong direction.

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Middle East Egypt and the Levant Defense and Security Counterterrorism and Homeland Security International Development and Governance and Rule of Law

Haim Malka

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