Why Would Palestinian 'President' Embrace a War Criminal?

JERUSALEM, Israel – Palestinian Authority 'President' Mahmoud Abbas – his term expired in January 2009 – spent three days in Sudan this week to develop strategies to counter Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent trip to Africa.

Abbas greeted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, convicted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague of war crimes, crimes against humanity and the Dafur genocide, with a warm embrace.

While there, Abbas signed several bilateral agreements and laid a cornerstone for a P.A. embassy, TheTower reported. He later expressed solidarity with Sudan on a Facebook post.

"President Mahmoud Abbas and his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir discussed developing a strategy for the African continent and coordinating to restrain Israeli attempts to make a breakthrough," P.A. Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki told the press in Khartoum.

At the beginning of July, Netanyahu led an Israeli delegation on an historic four-day visit to several east African countries to promote economic and diplomatic ties with Israel.

The visit began in Uganda with a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Entebbe rescue, a daring mission to free passengers on a hijacked Air France flight. Netanyahu's brother, Yoni, commander of the mission, was its only casualty.  

On Thursday, Abbas flew to Paris to talk with French President Francois Hollande about the "French initiative."

Israel has rejected the French initiative, calling it a deterrent to direct talks.