Israel against his own compatriotes.The reality is that the Palestinian people in a whole have rarely been a focal point within Abbas' political equation.Now Abu Mazen is desperate to ensure that the future of Fatah continue to favour his brand of politics and sideline his rivals. These include not only Hamas, but also Marwan Barghouthi's branch.The sad and painful reality is that wheile the status quo is bleack for most Plaestinians, it is beneficial to a few unworthy rulers who have benefited, becoming wealthy after the Oslo Accords was signed. The PA is itselfdirect outcome of Oslo, can only survive as long as the Oslo scheme of"peace process" prevails.Meanwhile, the large majority of Palestinians are suffering. They see nopolitical horizon, they are getting poorer and jobs are harder to come by, the Israelioccupation is more enriched and getting worse every year, the Arabs are toopreoccupied with their own wars and conflicts and the Palestinian leadershipsare busy squabbling over meaningless titles, money and hallow prestige.While Yasser Arafat was holed up f in his office in Ramallah foryears, until his suspicious death in November 2004, Abu Mazen is free totravel, as he is seen less like an opponent than as an ally. While Israel can,at times, be critical of Abbas' public discourse, in action, he rarely deviatesfar from the acceptable limits set by the Israeli government.This is why Abbas is free and Marwan Barghouti is in jail.Furthermore, as Jonathan Cook wrote, "Abbas is publicly supportive ofthe strikers, but in private he is said to want the protest over as quickly aspossible." Reports revealed that he had urged Egypt's dictator el-Sissi tointerced with the US and Israel to help... Who?Mass mobilisation has always scared Abu Mazen and the PA. It is toodangerous for them, because popular action often challenges the establishedstatus quo and could hinder his Israeli-sanctioned rule over occupiedPalestinians.Many of Fatah supporters are unhappy with Abba's and his dealings withDonald Trump, whose solution of one state, two states, whichever "bothparties like" is absolutely unreal and unfair.Both sides are far from being equal powers. Israel has nuclear capabilitiesand on of the five most powerful army in the world.Why then, should Palestinians be quiet?Marwan Barghouthi, from his jail, called for unity against factionalism andIsraeli occupation. And when he wrote "Rights are not bestowed by anoppressor," on the first day of the hunger strike, his message wasdirected at Abbas and his cronies, as much as it was directed at Israel.In the meantime, on the 25th day of Palestinians hunger strike, 11 May, Marwan Barghouthi received a visit from the International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday; all legal and family visitshad been blocked since 17 April.And in Portugal, on 11 May, the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament) aproved the text Movimento pelos Direitos do Povo Palestino e Pela Paz no Medio Oriente (MPPM) of solidarity with Palestinian hunger strikers.Em Portugal, a Camara Federal aprovou o texto Movimento pelos Direitos do Povo Palestino e Pela Paz no Medio Oriente (MPPM) de solidariedade com os prisioneiros politicos palestinos em greve de forme.Hunger Strike, 2014 What it means