Posted on 06/01/2003 6:10:31 AM PDT by SJackson
Like two trains passing in the night, "terrorism" and "diplomacy" continue on their respective tracks, without appearing to acknowledge each other even in passing.
Like two trains passing in the night, "terrorism" and "diplomacy" continue on their respective tracks, without appearing to acknowledge each other even in passing. Palestinian terrorists fired mortar shells at the Jewish town of Gadid in the Gaza area of Gush Katif this morning, causing damage but no casualties. Earlier, Arab gunfire was directed at IDF outposts in the area, and grenades were thrown at an Israeli position in southern Gaza. No one was hurt, and IDF soldiers returned fire.
At the same time, the government continues its negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and making concessions. Despite intense terrorist warnings, the closure has been removed from Judea and Samaria, allowing 25,000 Arab workers to cross into pre-'67 Israel each day.
An IDF force detected two Palestinian terrorists placing a bomb along a road near Jenin; the soldiers opened fire, killing one terrorist, and then apprehended the other. The soldiers found that the bomb was a massive 70-kilogram device, designed to blow up on an IDF patrol vehicle.
It has been reported, as well, that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is prepared to declare his intention to remove "illegal outposts" in Yesha - although some sources say this is not true. Sharon and his advisors are preparing their positions for the Bush-Sharon-Abbas summit meeting in Aqaba this Wednesday. In exchange for Israeli flexibility on issues of a Palestinian state, prisoners, and withdrawal from PA-controlled cities, Israel demands that the PA declare its recognition of Israel as a Jewish state - but the PA refuses. Abu Mazen told American emissary William Burns yesterday that the PA insists that it will issue declarations only in accordance with the Road Map.
Sharon has agreed, as a gesture towards Abu Mazen, to release the longest-serving terrorist in prison, Ahmed Jabara, who planned the famous refrigerator bomb in Jerusalem in 1975. Fourteen Israelis were killed in the blast, and Jabara, now 68, was sentenced to three life sentences. The GSS is preparing a list of another 100 prisoners "without blood on their hands" to be released in the coming days. Free travel will be allowed to VIP's of the PA.
This is an odious slander against a president that has shown more support towards Israel than any other president in our history.
Why? I don't get it. At this point the Palestinians don't need to stop their attacks on the Israelis. I mean, why would they stop if the Israelis keep making concessions.
While it is probably true that Sharon is being forced into the concessions by Bush, it is not clear that there is any "appeasement" being sought by the White House. It is probably more true that Sharon is trying to appease the Bush administration with theses concessions.
We hear many rumors at this point, but no real facts. One thing has already been established though, these concessionsl lead to more death. It is only any a matter of time.
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