Abbas Shuffles Around Palestinian Ambassadors, Ignores Concerns of Corruption
BY: Nisreen Eadeh/Staff Writer
The Palestinian Authority, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, is shaking up their diplomatic assignments for 2017. With the new Trump administration taking office in January, so will a new Palestinian ambassador to the United States.
Husam Zomlot, Abbas’ strategic affairs advisor, will replace Maen Areikat as the PLO ambassador to the U.S. Areikat will move to London, replacing Manuel Hassassian, who has not been offered a new position as of yet. Ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands will also be replaced in the hopes that they will yield better diplomatic ties in the countries.
Many recommendations were made to change the U.S. ambassador, and Zomlot was chosen because of his many relationships and influence in Western countries. The U.S. ambassador’s job is to fight against American policies toward Israel and assist in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Before joining Fatah, Zomlot was the PLO ambassador to the UK from 2003 to 2008, where he made essential connections, according to Abbas, that could help move the conversation to a favorable direction.
The PA president announced the decisions to reshuffle ambassadors in late October, drawing criticism from Palestine and the diaspora. Some spectators believe corruption is the cause of the shake-up. With ambassadors in 94 countries around the world, the PLO struggles to stay within its modest budget. This has elicited unlawful acts within the embassies, such as fraud and monetary exchanges for favors in Europe, China, and South America.
Another cause of alleged corruption comes from the way the ambassadors are picked. Many are chosen through nepotism or favoritism, as opposed to qualifications and experience. Abdullah Abdullah, head of the political committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and former ambassador, told Al-Monitor “Ambassadors should be chosen in a way that serves the Palestinian cause. We have diaspora across the world and wide global solidarity campaigns that necessitate the presence of competent ambassadors. Unfortunately, the PLC [has had no luck in convincing] the foreign minister to get informed about how to appoint new ambassadors.”
Palestinians in the diaspora have complained about the PLO assignments for years, arguing that the ambassadors are simply friends of Abbas acting as “lame ducks” in their offices. Unlike permanent countries, Palestine must rely on diplomatic relationships and information sharing in other countries to gain legitimacy around the world. Support from countries sympathetic to the Palestinian cause is essential in solving the conflict, but corruption cases and unserious ambassador picks makes the PA and PLO look bad.
In the United States, presidents appoint ambassadors in a similarly troubling fashion. Ambassadorships are often given to unqualified campaign donors and friends of the administration. However, reputation is holds far more weight for Palestinians in their fight to become a state, than it does for a world superpower. Palestine must utilize its best people to resourcefully earn diplomatic support from the international community.
