"As usual... there was no timetable, no enforcement mechanism, and no concrete political roadmap. Once again, reform appeared to function more as a slogan aimed at reassuring Western governments than as a serious political process."

"Would elections solve the problem? Many Western officials continue insisting that elections are the answer to the Palestinian crisis. Recent Palestinian history, however, suggests otherwise. The last parliamentary elections, held in 2006, brought Hamas to power. One year later, Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip after executing opponents, throwing Fatah rivals off rooftops, and establishing an Islamist dictatorship that remains in place to this day."

"In several polls, Hamas leaders have enjoyed greater popularity than Abbas and Fatah."

"[T]he Palestinian national movement historically presented itself as a collective "liberation struggle" rather than a family-based political enterprise. The rise of Yasser Abbas, therefore, symbolizes for many Palestinians not renewal, but the deepening personal entrenchment of power."

"The Palestinian Authority continues every year to pay hundreds of millions of dollars, now disguised as "social welfare," to Palestinians and their families involved in terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.

The Fatah election of Barghouti and Zubeidi sends a dangerous message: that inside Fatah, terrorism and "armed struggle" continue to confer political legitimacy."

"The Palestinian movement, rather than distancing itself from violence, continues to celebrate and glorify individuals associated with attacks against Israeli civilians. It is a reality that should finally put a stop to all idiotic Western claims that Fatah represents a "moderate" alternative to Hamas."

Khaled Abu Toameh, Gatestone Institute

The Palestinian Authority still pays monthly stipends to Palestinians imprisoned in Israel for their involvement in terror attacks. Mahmoud Abbas frequently refers to these prisoners as national heroes who made significant sacrifices for the Palestinian cause. "[I]f we have only a single penny left," he said in February 2025, "it will go to the prisoners and the martyrs. I will not allow a reduction in our commitments to them." (Image source: MEMRI)

 

Mark Carney, 'X'

May 7, 2026

Ottawa, Ontario

Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas.

The Prime Minister expressed Canada’s deep concern over the continued humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaffirmed its opposition to Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank. He emphasised that unilateral actions undermine prospects for a lasting peace.

Prime Minister Carney underscored Canada’s unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution – an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security.

The Prime Minister welcomed the measures taken by the Palestinian Authority to strengthen accountability, governance, and democratic institutions, in which Hamas can play no part. He conveyed Canada’s support and the importance of further reforms.

Canada will continue to promote peace and stability in the region, and work closely with partners toward this goal. The two leaders will remain in contact.

Prime Minister of Canada 

 

Makes democratic sense, does it not, for the Canadian prime minister to express his deep admiration for the president of the Palestinian Authority for having taken measures to "strengthen accountability, governance and democratic institutions". This, of an autocrat who having been elected to head the PA 21 years ago has yet to call  another election. That's some four-year term indeed... As for having implemented democratic reforms on the part of Mahmoud Abbas, none come to mind. Nor does the record show any. As for the matter of the 'two-state solution', the PA adamantly refuses to even recognize Israel.

 

Canada's Privy Council Office says that: "The Palestinian Authority continues to advance elements of a UN-supported reform agenda focused on social protection, education-sector adjustments and improvements to transparency and service delivery". On the social protection side, there is evidence of Palestinian journalists and just ordinary Palestinians inciting against the continued presidency of the 83-year-old Abbas facing arrest and imprisonment. Oh, and school curricula in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has undergone no refreshing change; Palestinian children from toddlers to teens are still inculcated with Jew-hate and encouraged to envision a future as 'martyrs'.

 

A scene from an UNRWA summer camp play

 

As for social welfare, it has been demonstrated time and again that the PA has an ongoing, proud record of paying lifetime financial support to terrorists who have killed Israelis, naming streets and public buildings in their honour. "Pay for slay" rewards those Palestinians with a lifetime salary while they're imprisoned, or if they've died as a vaunted martyr, to their families go those financial benefits. Although Mahmoud Abbas has informed the European Union which condemned the practise of paying terrorists, that he would no longer do so, those payments continue to this day. And the West, through its generosity to the PA, pays for that reward program.

 

Mark Carney's May 7 congratulatory telephone conversation with Mahmoud Abbas saw publication in the PA's WAFA news agency, in an article magnifying and congratulating the Canadian prime minister for his support for the Palestinians, highlighting "the Canadian government's condemnation of Israeli colonial settlement activities in the Palestinian territory, describing them as illegal and illegitimate". The Liberal Mark Carney has been fulsome in his criticism of Israel, transgressing the human rights of Palestinians.

 

Hezbollah, Council on Foreign Relations

Oh, and not just Palestinians, since Mr. Carney spoke also to the president of Lebanon where he condemned Israel and its "illegal invasion" of southern Lebanon. This, to the president of a country which has been strangulated by a Shiite terrorist group whose focal agenda is the destruction of Israel, in tandem with the Islamic Republic of Iran, its sponsor. That southern Lebanon has become the military den of Hezbollah as it lobs rockets continuously into northern Israel, threatening the lives of Israeli citizens is a bit of an inconvenience that doesn't bother Mr. Carney one whit, however.