Mahmoud Abbas actiona in the next 24 hours will tell the tale of the next several years. Immeidate severe action like arresting a large number of suspected Hizbullah and other signs of cracking down in ways Arafat refused to do; will indicate their is some hope. My bet is he issues an insincere condemnation and some window dressing kind of action. It will then be clear to Israel he is really no different than Arafat, and we are back to square one.
If Abbas makes arrests the prisoners will be imprisoned martyrs and back out on the street before their clothes need washing.
But I do agree with you , and am pretty sure Abbas will take the apology route.