Cease Fire? Palestinians Attack Israeli Settlements

[MisterMike]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...p/20050210/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians

Is it no surprise?

JERUSALEM - Palestinian militants on Thursday fired dozens of mortar shells and homemade rockets at Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip (news - web sites), prompting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to order his security forces to move quickly to preserve a new cease-fire with Israel.

...


Early Thursday, Hamas militants said they fired 36 mortar shells and 20 homemade rockets at the Jewish settlements of Neve Dekalim and Gedid in the Gaza Strip. Hours later, three more mortars landed in Gedid.

The barrages caused no damages or injuries. But shortly after the second attack, Abbas said he had issued "strict instructions" to his security forces to prevent any violations of the cease-fire. In a statement, he also said he is considering a series of "decisions and measures" for his forces, but did not elaborate.

And the solution is...

After the truce declaration at a summit in Egypt on Tuesday, Israeli officials said further progress in the peace process would hinge on the ability of Palestinian security forces to control militants.

Doubt it. It's up to Isreal to control the militants - which means no cease fire will ever last.

 

[Zepp]

Well, Abbas still appears to be doing more than Arafat ever did. He did try to ban assault rifles in the territories, which unprecedented (probably not pheasible). If the new PA government is sincerely trying to curb Palestinian militants, the major changes will happen slowly. I'm pretty sure Abbas realizes that he won't be able to follow Arafta's path and repeatedly let things slide in chaos (after Arafat stopped causing the chaos of course).

But no, this doesn't really surprise me.

 

[PeachMonkey]

Abbas has already taken action in response to this attack by Hamas, including canning a number of Palestinian security officials and demanding resignations by others. He's in a diificult position given that Hamas never agreed to the cease-fire reached between the PA and the Israelis.

Abbas may well find himself in a position of either going to open war with Hamas, or being forced to directly support Israeli security operations against Hamas, in order to maintain the progress of peace. Either move will place his administration in jeopardy, as Hamas holds a great deal of influence among the Palestinian people due to their non-militant activities.

 

[Phoenix44]

I agree with Zepp and PeachMonkey. Abbas has definitely done more than Arafat ever did. Abbas has to rein in Hamas or Israel will never agree to withdrawal, but this may put him in a difficult political position with his own people.

 

[MisterMike]

As soon as Abbas oversteps his bounds with Hammas, they'll be scraping him up off the walls. We know who wears the "pants" in Palestine. This is all a big show - a form of entertainment - but it won't mean diddly until Hammas is gone.

 

[Zepp]

As soon as Abbas oversteps his bounds with Hammas, they'll be scraping him up off the walls. We know who wears the "pants" in Palestine. This is all a big show - a form of entertainment - but it won't mean diddly until Hammas is gone.

The problem with getting rid of Hammas (and many of the smaller militant organizations) is that Israel can't do it. Israel can always continue wiping out terrorist leaders, but ultimately, that just leads to a swelling of the ranks. The Palestinians probably won't be ousting their militants any time soon, but that really is the only way there will be lasting peace between them and Israel.