By Avi Issacharoff Haaretz Last update - 11:37 28/04/2010
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1165909.html

The long-simmering tense relations between Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad are flaring up again after
Abbas struck down a plan by Fayyad to declare Palestinian statehood
unilaterally in summer 2011.

In an interview with Channel 2 on Monday, Abbas said that a Palestinian
declaration of statehood - a scenario that provokes great concern in
Israel - is not on the agenda.

Abbas and Fayyad, longtime political rivals, have maintained a reasonable
working relationship. Both men are careful not to criticize one another or
contradict the other's statements in public.

However, sources in Ramallah said yesterday that their relations hit a rough
patch following Fayyad's interview with Haaretz earlier this month in which
he hinted that the PA would unilaterally declare a state in August 2011 if
peace talks with Israel fail.

Abbas and his aides were miffed at what they perceive as Fayyad's attempt to
circumvent his authority and dictate an agenda to the president and the
other institutions of the Palestine Liberation Organization. As prime
minister, Fayyad is no more than the head of a government that is subject to
the authority of the president.

Fayyad's statements to Haaretz contradict a long-standing position held by
Abbas, who does not view a unilateral declaration of statehood as serving
Palestinian interests.

Fayyad's statements and actions are gaining greater popularity in public
opinion polls. The prime minister has also demonstrated greater independence
by taking decisions without input from the president's office. Abbas
associates are closely monitoring him. Despite Fayyad's claims that he has
no interest in running for the presidency, senior Fatah officials say, in
effect, he is running a political campaign by making high-profile
appearances usually reserved for elected officials.

Fatah observers note Fayyad's recent participation in a marathon in Nablus;
his burning of products made in the settlements; planting of olive groves;
and appearing in a Bedouin robe.

Fayyad is not a member of Fatah, and its members are looking with concern at
indications an increasing number of Palestinians are expressing support for
the prime minister's policies. Should Fayyad decide to run for president,
that could threaten Fatah's candidate for the post.

Abbas, in delivering remarks to the Fatah Revolutionary Council on Saturday,
appeared to have lost patience with Fayyad and said the only body authorized
to make decisions for the Palestinian people is the PLO.

"It is not the factions or the governments that take ownership of
decisions," Abbas said, indirectly hinting at Fayyad's independent course of
actions.

In Monday's interview with Channel 2 Arab affairs correspondent Ehud Ya'ari,
Abbas was asked whether the PA intends on declaring statehood in August
2011. "No, we will not take unilateral measures," Abbas emphatically said.
"We will abide by agreements."

Abbas' comments are interpreted as a ringing slap to Fayyad's plans. After
the Haaretz interview, the prime minister backtracked by saying that
Palestinian preparations for a state will be completed by August 2011.

Abbas associates reprimanded Fayyad for the interview, claiming that a
unilateral declaration would play into Israel's hands by limiting the scope
of the new state to 50 to 60 percent of the West Bank and leave it without
Jerusalem as its capital.