The comment may increase pressure on Western powers keen to bolster Abbas at the expense of the Hamas Islamist party that won an election last year and leads the Palestinian government. Abbas toured European and Arab capitals last month in a bid to ease an aid embargo and other economic sanctions imposed in response to Hamas's refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel. "In the next two months, if the siege is not lifted, then Abu Mazen may resign," the official, a leading figure in Abbas's secular Fatah faction, told Reuters. Abbas's office had no immediate comment.
Abbas, popularly known as Abu Mazen, made the remark at a meeting of senior Fatah officials on Thursday. It is unclear whether resigning is a serious option under consideration by Abbas or merely a negotiating gambit. Resignation could trigger an election which many fear could turn into a bloody showdown between Hamas and Fatah militants. Abbas hoped to ease factional fighting and persuade Western nations and Israel to end sanctions that have crippled the Palestinian economy by forming a unity coalition government in March, including Fatah ministers under Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. The embargo, however, goes on.