Palestinians want progress, not dreams, from Abbas

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK - Like most Palestinians, Taiseer Hamdallah voted for Mahmoud Abbas because he swore loyalty to Yasser Arafat's dream of nationhood. But he feels Abbas will never thrive on symbolism alone.

"I hope Abu Mazen won't settle for being another icon. We voted for him because we count on him to bring us a better life," said Hamdallah, using Abbas' nickname.

Ordinary Palestinians said Abbas' landslide election victory will amount to nothing unless he delivers good government, relief from Israeli occupation and eventually the state that guerrilla patriarch Arafat never attained.

With militants defying Abbas' truce calls and Israeli settlements growing in the West Bank unrestrained by the United States, Palestinians doubt his agenda of non-violent struggle will make their dream of a state come true soon.

But many count on Abbas to take early practical steps to bring statehood closer, for he will never be able to fall back on the revolutionary charisma that excused Arafat for the corrupt and chaotic failings of his leadership.

"I danced until dawn celebrating Abu Mazen's victory, but now we need to see deeds," said taxi driver Amjad Helmi, 27.

"With his victory comes huge responsibility. We expect a better future, with Israeli army checkpoints removed and job opportunities," he said, alluding to the economic meltdown caused by Israel's crushing response to the four-year-old revolt.

Many Palestinians say that to prove his stature as a leader after decades in Arafat's shadow, Abbas must first secure an end to Israeli army raids and encirclement of their towns.

Another key credibility test will be whether he can get Israel to free a large number of the 7000 or so security prisoners who Palestinians regard as freedom fighters.

"I voted for him because he promised to free our beloved sons," said Mahmoud Maqlad, 65, of Gaza City, whose son is serving a life prison term in Israel. "Abbas must not sign any agreement with Israel before securing freedom of all prisoners."

Many Palestinians are torn between hope and scepticism about Abbas' chances of success, given the two extremes he faces -- the domination of Israel and the clout of Palestinian militants who reject negotiations.

"When it comes to fundamental issues such as settlements, Jerusalem and our refugees, I fear Abu Mazen will fall short because Israel is not interested in a just peace," said Ahmed al-Awartani, a Nablus technician.

Israel says it will never free prisoners it deems "terrorists" with "blood on their hands".

It also rules out lifting its military clampdown unless the post-Arafat leadership subdues the militants behind years of suicide bombings, ambush attacks and rocket and mortar fire.

Abbas won 62 per cent of the vote in Sunday's election -- at first glance a potent mandate for his goal of winning through negotiations a Palestinian state in all of the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital.

But he had no real competition, and the Islamists who are Fatah's main popular opposition boycotted the election.

Even Abbas' staunchest backers are concerned he will lack any leverage over militants unless Washington intervenes to stop Israel expanding West Bank settlements it vows never to yield.

"What he is able to do depends on what Israel and the United States give him to convince his people," cabinet minister Saeb Erekat told the Belgian daily le Standaard on Monday.

"If there isn't a meaningful peace process, then this whole region will be condemned and delivered to the extremists."

Palestinians and US-led mediators have welcomed Israel's plan to withdraw unilaterally from the small Gaza Strip later this year. But Palestinians fear Israel intends to "trade off" Gaza for a permanent grip on the much larger West Bank.

- REUTERS