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US tries to head off Israeli-Palestinian 'Al-Aqsa war'

While right-wing settlers and extremist Palestinians ponder a ''war of zealots,'' the Obama administration considers a tactical deal, including an Israeli settlement freeze in exchange for Palestinian security cooperation and no unilateral moves at the UN.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a meeting with Israeli students in the West Bank city of Ramallah February 16, 2014. Addressing a sticking point in U.S.-brokered peace talks, Abbas on Sunday dismissed charges by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he wanted to "flood" Israel with Palestinian refugees. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX18YI1

A source close to President Mahmoud Abbas told Al-Monitor that the Palestinian president was committed to preventing a third intifada. "It's not in his interest," the official said. "This crisis is not only about Israel, it is also about ruling in Palestine. Hamas intends to inflame an intifada using religious content: saving Al-Aqsa from the Jews. Our real struggle today is with them. A religiously tainted intifada could turn against Fatah. [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is playing into the hands of Hamas by appearing to dictate the level of security cooperation; he makes Abbas look like a Palestinian Quisling. That security cooperation cannot last for long, since it is losing public legitimacy."

The Palestinian official said that the common interest of preventing massive bloodshed could only be translated into a real, enhanced security cooperation that also would affect East Jerusalem if there would be a sense of "quid pro quo," meaning strengthening the status of the Palestinian leader. "Here is what is possible," he said, "a full settlement construction freeze of six months in return for full security cooperation, a strong hand against the incitement to violence prevalent in the Palestinian media and social networks and no unilateral moves at the United Nations."

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