(Ha'aretz) Amir Oren - IDF Military Intelligence believes that PA Prime Minister Qurei has no chance of persuading Hamas to agree to a cease-fire. Qurei is helpless in the face of Arafat, who remains in control of the PA's security mechanisms. MI believes that Prime Minister Sharon's address to the Herzliya Conference last week was seen by the Palestinians as a real threat to their aspirations for political achievements. The threat stems from Sharon's announcement that Israel will decide from which areas it will not withdraw, even under a permanent settlement, and will reinforce its hold on them. The Palestinians are also concerned by Israel's coordination with elements in the U.S. administration - expressed both by Sharon and in the praise that ensued from the White House, the fall-off in the influence of the Geneva Accord, and the series of U.S. successes in the Middle East.
2003-12-22 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive