Arab World: Palestinian “Abed Raboo goes for the Qatari Jugular” · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Palestinian Papers, a leak which contains more than 1,600 internal documents on a decade of peace talks with Israel, created a furore online, after being released by Qatar-based Al Jazeera.  The controversy continues as Palestinians deny the leak's content and context and wage a full scale attack on Qatar.
Palestinian Abed Raboo launches a full scale attack on Qatar
The documents, which cover memos, e-mails, maps, minutes from private meetings, accounts of high level exchanges, strategy papers and even power point presentations and which date from 1999 to 2010, are being released in batches, and reveal new details about:
* the Palestinian Authority’s willingness to concede illegal Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, and to be “creative” about the status of the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount;
* the compromises the Palestinian Authority was prepared to make on refugees and the right of return;
* details of the PA’s security cooperation with Israel;
* and private exchanges between Palestinian and American negotiators in late 2009, when the Goldstone Report was being discussed at the United Nations.
Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas’ senior aide Yasser Abed Rabbo held Press conferences in Ramallah to address the leaks, which were followed closely by netizens from across the region. In particular, tweeps took note of Abed Rabbo's attacks on Qatar, the home of Al Jazeera.
From the United Arab Emirates, Mishaal Al Gergawi notes:
Abed Raboo goes for the Qatari jugular.
Fellow UAE writer Sultan Al Qassemi followed the press conferences closely, quoting Rabbo. In this tweet, Abed Rabbo is quoted accusing Qatar of “splitting the Arab world”:
Abed Rabbo “And how His Highness the Emir of Qatar is splitting the Arab world through different sects” #PalestinePapers
In another tweet, Al Qassemi adds:
Abed Rabbo is launching an indirect attack on the Qatari government with his referrals of “those behind Al Jazeera” “& those who finance it”
Jordanian Ali Abunimah notes:
PA's Abed Rabbo is now launching a full-scale attack on Qatar and its Emir, who have nothing to do with #palestinepapers
Abbas Al Lawati, from Oman, agrees:
Abed Rabbo is getting personal with Qatar #palestinepapers
Palestinian @Falasteeni exclaims:
Silly Abed Yasser saying Aljazeera took everything out of context…um, idiot, the entire documents are available online for all to see
Egyptian @3arabawy remarks that Egyptian singer Tamer Hosni would have fared better:
Tamer Hosni would have performed much better than Abd Rabbo on that occasion. I mean, u need someone who can move & shake. #palestinepapers
And @draddee adds:
PASpox: We'd like Qatar's amir to show transperencey by uncovering Qatar's role in collaborating w/ Israel & Iran & spying on Arab neighbors
Following accusations from the Palestinian Authority that the documents have been taken out of context, Egyptian @fustat quips:
One might wonder what the right context of the #PalestinePapers would be according to Yasser Abed Raboo, Saeb Erakat et al?
For more on the Twitter conversation, follow the hashtag #PalestinePapers
Photo credit: Sultan Al Qassemi