Embattled Palestinian PM Steps Down
15 minutes ago

By LARA SUKHTIAN, Associated Press Writer
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas resigned Saturday, said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. The resignation dealt a serious blow to U.S.-backed peace efforts.

AP Photo

Reuters Slideshow: Mideast Conflict
 Officials Trade Blame on 'Road Map' Detour
(AP Video)
Abbas submitted his resignation in a letter to Yasser Arafat (news - web sites), said Erekat. It was not immediately clear whether Arafat would accept Abbas' resignation.

Abbas had been weakened by his wrangling with Arafat, the near-collapse of a U.S.-backed peace plan and his inability to improve the daily lives of Palestinians.

The beleaguered prime minister, on the job only four months, told parliament earlier this week that it must either back him or strip him of his post, saying he is not clinging to the job and would just as soon step down.

The resignation deals a serious blow to the "road map" peace plan, leaving Israel and the United States without a Palestinian negotiating partner, at least temporarily. Both nations have said they will not do business with Arafat, whom they accuse of fomenting terrorism and consider an obstacle to peacemaking.

Israel's defense minister has threatened to expel Arafat. Israel has been held back by U.S. opposition and by warnings of its security chiefs that Arafat could do more harm abroad than isolated at his West Bank headquarters.

However, the threshold for taking action against Arafat could be lowered by Abbas' departure.









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