First and clear on thorny Middle East politics
11.12.2009
On-off peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and divisions between President Abbas’s Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza continue to define Middle East politics. From a beat on Oct. 23 with Abbas`s calling Palestinian elections in January, to his threat not to run for re-election because of anger at Washington, right up to the final postponement by the Electoral Commission of those elections on Nov. 12, Reuters has led the way. Reuters was 2 hours ahead with aides to Abbas revealing that the Electoral Commission would tell him elections were not possible. Earlier Reuters was more than 2 days ahead with impeccable sources clearly telling clients there would be no elections in January, and hence no resignation by Abbas. Trenchant analysis, scenarios, Q+As and Factboxes laid out for clients just what was going on in this foggiest of political environments.
