In this mailing: Khaled Abu Toameh: Palestinians Need New Leaders, Not New Governments Daniel Greenfield: Michigan Muslims Take Biden Hostage to Save Hamas Palestinians Need New Leaders, Not New Governments by Khaled Abu Toameh  •  February 26, 2024 at 5:00 am The sole way to "revitalize" the Palestinian Authority is to insist that it rid itself of every leader who has failed his people and who remains in power, disregarding the will and interests of the people. That is hardly likely, at least not in the foreseeable future. No one is willingly going to forego perks and power. There is no way that Abbas or any of his senior aides are voluntarily going to step down. Only a new and fresh leadership committed to reforms, democracy, and transparency has a chance of leading the Palestinians towards a better life. Sadly, leaders with such a portfolio are hard to come by in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Any leader who comes through the US or Israel will be accused by Palestinians of being a traitor and collaborator with the enemies of the Palestinian people. The assumption that 88-year-old Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will step down or agree to share power with others is a non-starter. Abbas, who was elected in 2005, is now in the 19th year of a four-year term. He has already proven that he does not care what others say about him. Pictured: Abbas appears to fall asleep during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron October 24, 2023 in Ramallah. (Photo by Christophe Ena/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) According to a famous Arab proverb, "A dog's tail is never straight." It is used to describe people who will never be cured of their bad habits. This proverb comes to mind when one hears the US administration talking about the need for the "revitalization" of the Palestinian Authority (PA), established exactly 30 years ago in accordance with the Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the PLO. Since its inception, the Palestinian Authority has consistently dismissed demands to abandon its old habits: financial corruption, bad governance, and lack of freedom of speech and a free media.  It is unrealistic to expect the Palestinian leadership to introduce meaningful changes in its style of governance and in its institutions. The US administration seems to believe that the PA, once revamped, would be qualified to manage the civilian and security affairs of the Palestinians after the current Israel-Hamas war. Continue Reading Article