Abbas’ term ended years ago. Everybody still plays like he is relevant as the alternative is dealing directly with Hamas. But Abbas has no real power. If he were to agree to any of the Israeli offers he would probably be killed or removed by those around him. Abbas is playing a game to keep the funding going. It’s all about money. He has no leadership role.
It will be interesting to find out what happens from this meeting with the Saudis, as they surely understand the man’s untenable position when it comes to negotiating.
Trump has apparently achieved a sea change in the middle east. He has brought the Saudis on board and the Saudis are actively playing their new role. The deal is probably, partially, a way to counter Iran. The cost of US protection is now ending clandestine support of terrorism, that being the recent arrests, and to reform Islam. If you want to know what reforming Islam is likely to look like, picture the Catholic Reformation, but with bullets, bombs and missiles. It may be too late to do it without nuclear wars. On the good side, for us, it is likely that any nuclear war will be between Muslims. They won’t touch Israel or America as they may sound stupid to us, but they aren’t stupid when DEATH is on the line.
I think that it’s Trump.
Him, and a return to a USA we have not seen in AT LEAST a generation or so.