February 08, 2005

Sharon, Abbas to announce an end to violence

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas are to issue separate statements in Sharm e-Sheikh Tuesday designed to put an end to over four years of violence, even though the term "Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire" will not be used.
[Guess al-Reuters and the rest of the MSM decided not to pay attention: Middle East Cease-fire Awaited at Landmark Summit--Jen]

Representatives from both sides were meeting near midnight Monday putting final touches on the ceremony that will be hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and will also be attended by Jordanian King Abdullah II.

Mubarak, according to Israeli diplomatic sources, was widely expected to announce the return of Egypt's ambassador to Tel Aviv.
[Hosni wants to keep getting that $2 billion from us, which requires that Egypt officially recognize Israel.]
Jordan may follow suit, though there are some bilateral issues outstanding that may hold up a similar Jordanian announcement. Both countries withdrew their ambassadors in November 2002 to protest Israel's handling of the Palestinian violence.
[Betcha their view of the Jenin "massacre" had a lot to do with that!--J.T.]
[...]
Senior Israeli diplomatic officials said that the two sides would not announce a joint cease-fire, but rather that Abbas would issue a statement declaring a cessation of Palestinian violence, and Sharon would say that Israel's response to this would be a cessation of military activities against the Palestinians.

The official said that this rather arduous arrangement was created because Israel wanted to make it clear that it is not a partner to the internal Palestinian cease-fire. Israel has consistently said that the internal Palestinian cease-fire, or hudna, was not enough, and that the PA needed to take action to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.

Israel, a senior political source said, was insisting on the dismantling of the terrorist infrastructure in order to bring about an end to terrorism against Israel, and not just an end to the current terror attacks.

At the same time, sources in the Prime Minister's Office said that Sharon, in his speech, would make it clear that Israel would respond to Palestinian quiet with quiet of its own.

So, if I understand this correctly, Abbas is calling an end to the Intifada, but not the IslamoFacists war against the "Zionist enity."
Sharon, for his part, seems to be saying that as long as there are no more terror attacks, the "Palestinians" won't see the IDF.
Well, if it works, this is a real step to a permanent peace.
Coming as it does right after her visit, all I can is that when SecState Dr. Rice speaks, people listen!
I know how much the Israelis want a real peace with their Islamic neighbors, but they must hang tough with Abbas and hold his feet to the fire about staying on the "road map."
I'm not even close to convinced that Abbas and his followers really want peace, but maybe I'm too cynical, although the Arab Muslims have been fighting against Israel since the day she was created in 1948.
As Israeli PM Sharon will say today, we all want to see "deeds not words" from the Arafat-free Paleostinians.
(How the Israelis have the patience and the ability to" turn the other cheek" to endure this outrageous behavior for 57 years I'll never know, except that they must really have God's help in a big way!)