The trust of the Palestinians in their leaders is on an all time low (in comparison even GWBush looks popular):

In a new survey (after the Gaza coup), 11% in the Westbank were contented with Abbas, 8 % in Gaza.
Hanija, who had very high popularity ratings six months ago, has now only a 16 % support (being contented with) in the Westbank (my source, a German newspaer, gives no numbers for Gaza here).

The most irritating result is that 15 % of the Palestinians would even prefer Israeli occupation to the present administration.

Olmert has declared that Israel will release 250 Fatah prisoners. If the Israeli government is wiser than I fear they are, Marwan Barghuti will be among those released. He could be a strong man and a leader towards peace even with compromises. Then only Israel would need a similarly strong leader....

Wolfgang