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The New Palestinian Leader's Tightrope Act
(Los Angeles Times) Yossi Beilin - A cease-fire may be achieved either by combating the extremist Islamic elements or by reaching an agreement with them. Combating them militarily could cost Abu Mazen support among his own people, who do not necessarily view these groups as extremist or unreasonable. What's more, a military battle might be very tough because the Palestinian police forces do not have Israeli permission to use arms and because no one knows whether the forces will obey the new leader. In the near future, Abu Mazen will be walking this tightrope between the attempt to reach an agreement that will not be too costly from his standpoint and a violent struggle. He will also be seeking to burnish his credentials as a fighter for his people, and seeking to allay fears among Palestinians that he is, perhaps, too moderate to do the job.