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Arafat is Still in Charge

(Ha'aretz) Ze'ev Schiff - The person with the most influence over how long this period lasts is not Abbas but Arafat, who on Wednesday rejected a request that he transfer control of two major PA security services to Abbas and his security chief, Dahlan. Arafat also postponed a discussion of the plan submitted by Abbas and Dahlan for taking action against Hamas and Islamic Jihad following Tuesday's suicide bombing in Jerusalem. On the same day that a Hamas bomber from Hebron blew up the bus in Jerusalem, an Islamic Jihad cell from Western Samaria had been en route to a suicide bombing in Haifa - but was arrested instead. The ludicrous part is that both the Jerusalem attack, which killed 20 people, and another, less deadly suicide bombing last week are considered by Hamas to be part of the cease-fire. During the weeks of truce, in which neither the IDF nor the PA took action against Hamas, the organization built up its strength and its capabilities. Israel warned Dahlan repeatedly that his inaction would eventually lead to disaster. Israel has informed Washington that it remains committed to the diplomatic process, but it sees no chance of this process succeeding without action against the terrorist infrastructure. Before the Aqaba conference, the Americans told Israel that Dahlan would need much time before he was able to start fighting terror. When Israel told the Americans that three to four weeks ought to suffice, the Americans responded that they would dictate the time limit - a response that generated some sharp exchanges between Secretary of State Powell and IDF Chief of Staff Ya'alon. Now, following the Jerusalem bombing, America is beginning to issue more forceful demands that the terrorist infrastructure be eliminated immediately.
2003-08-22 00:00:00
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