(Washington Institute for Near East Policy)IDF Brig.-Gen. Michael Herzog - Palestinians point to the Abbas-engineered cooling-down period as an example of a positive step on their part that needs to be reinforced by positive Israeli actions. Yet Israel refuses to jump headlong into resumed peace negotiations before terrorist infrastructure is dismantled. The reorganization of the Palestinian security forces has been delayed, and their current efforts to thwart terrorist activities are far from systematic. Moreover, the PA has not dealt with the 495 West Bank fugitives on Israel's wanted list. The gradual handover of West Bank cities was based on a bilateral understanding that the fugitives would be allowed to return to normal life if they laid down their arms and renounced further violence, but so far Abbas has only established a committee to negotiate with them. Meanwhile, terrorists are trying to improve the range and the accuracy of their Kassam rockets, and Palestinian security forces are doing nothing to stop them. It seems that Abbas is acting only when he is challenged directly.
2005-04-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive