Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is everyone’s favorite punching bag. True, his speech at the UN General Assembly meeting Sept. 26 was vitriolic, irritating and infuriating in the continued use of the word “genocide.” With that said, although it's convenient to have someone to beat up, one should still speak the truth.

After the June 12 abduction of three Jewish youths on the West Bank, Abbas spoke with courageous moderation against the despicable act in contrast to the prevailing mood of his nation. In response, did he hear even one good word from the government of Israel?

Throughout the recent 50 days of combat in the Gaza Strip, Abbas acted responsibly. He confronted Hamas and publicly chastised the organization for the unnecessary bloodshed. That is not exactly a recipe for popularity on the Palestinian streets, but Abbas consistently took this tack.

During the war, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exhibited the most restraint among all the Israeli Cabinet members. Nevertheless, no statement was forthcoming from them announcing to Abbas that at the end of the fighting, there would be an opportunity for a new beginning between his administration and theirs. Netanyahu’s insinuation of a “new diplomatic horizon” turned out to be just another sleight of hand maneuver. How unsurprising.