Can Israel contain violence after Trump's proclamation?
After President Donald Trump's announcement that he recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had no choice but to ensure that Fatah's reconciliation with Hamas succeeds.
The next few days will show whether the Palestinian Authority (PA) is headed toward the kind of chaos that could result in the collapse of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' government, or whether the Palestinians will manage to contain their outrage over President Donald Trump's announcement that he recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. "Abbas without a diplomatic solution on the horizon is like a president with no authority and no path forward," a senior member of the Fatah movement told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. He said that Abbas "put all his eggs into one basket and received a resounding slap across the face from Trump, shaming him before all the Palestinians and not just Hamas."
The fact is that Abbas is trapped. On one hand, he must join the "day of rage" protests declared by the Palestinian leadership and even appear as if he organized them. On the other hand, if the rage spins out of control, the flames could reach as far as his headquarters in Ramallah. As far as most of the Palestinian people are concerned, Abbas himself told them that Trump may favor Israel, but he (Trump) is also serious about achieving peace.
