(Ha'aretz) Ze'ev Schiff - In Judea and Samaria, the Tanzim, which is connected to Fatah, has been infiltrated by Hizballah agents. This reinforces the argument that the longer the battle against the Palestinian terror infrastructure is put off, the more difficult it will be for the PA to deal with the problem when it does want to do so. The Hamas came out strengthened from the truce talks between the Palestinian factions in Cairo, with President Mubarak's bureau granting them recognition. Hamas has succeeded in seizing the role of the "governing alternative" to Arafat and the PA. Arafat definitely knew in advance that the chance for a hudna (cease-fire) among the Palestinian factions was very slim when he sent Abu Ala off to Cairo. At the same time Arafat is sending out signals to the U.S. and Israel that it is only with him, and not with Abu Ala, that a cease-fire can be reached. Abu Ala is unable at present to satisfy the basic precondition for a meeting between him and Prime Minister Sharon. Israel has requested that Abu Ala come to the meeting with a security plan in which the stages of implementation are detailed.
2003-12-26 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive