Palestinian Election Stuff

Helena Cobban has some materials from the Palestinian election that are rather interesting. Some will undoubtedly object to Abu Mazen's running as Arafat's successor, but they shouldn't. At this point, we're talking about a political figure named Mahmud Abbas using the symbol of Yasser Arafat, regardless of the latter's flaws as a leader. Many Israelis, of course, would like the Palestinians to have nothing to do with someone they see as just as thug and a terrorist, but then Palestinians would generally prefer to deal with an Israel not led by a man they consider an unindicted war criminal.