The decision by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, not to run for re-election next year looks like the act of a man who has reached the end of his political tether. He is the principal Palestinian advocate of a negotiated two-state peace agreement with Israel. If he stands by his threat to quit it could deal a devastating blow to that process, if not destroy it.

It is possible that Mr Abbas is bluffing, using the threat of his resignation as a negotiating tactic. But there can be no doubt that recent actions by the US administration and Israel have left him humiliated, and destroyed what remained of his credibility with his Palestinian people and his Fatah party.