Abbas says cracking down on Hamas and Islamic Jihad 'not an option at all'

Haaretz ^ | 22/07/2003 14:40 | The Associated Press

[yonif]

CAIRO - Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that he will not crack down on Palestinian militant groups, despite being urged by America and Israel to do so.

After meeting in Cairo with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, Abbas was asked by reporters if he will dismantle armed groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, steps Israel is demanding before withdrawing its forces from more Palestinian towns.

"Cracking down on Hamas, Jihad and the Palestinian organizations is not an option at all," Abbas said before leaving Egypt to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II. "We are applying the law which we accepted under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, and that is what we will do." The Palestinian Authority says a crackdown could trigger civil war, while militants warn such a move could nullify a shaky three-month truce in attacks on Israelis.

Disarming militant groups responsible for attacks on Israelis is a condition of the U.S.-backed road map to Middle East peace, which envisions an end to violence and creating an independent Palestinian state by 2005.Under the road map, Israel withdrew from parts of Gaza and the West Bank town of Bethlehem, but refuses to hand over more land unless the Palestinians disarm militant groups. Abbas has preferred to negotiate with militant groups - not forcibly crackdown on them - in a bid to end attacks.

In an apparent move to satisfy Israel, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Sunday issued a decree outlawing "incitement that encourages the use of violence that harms relations with foreign countries." Abbas and Palestinian security chief Mohamed Dahlan held talks in Cairo Monday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and Egypt's intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, on the road map and Abbas' upcoming visit to Washington.

Abbas is expected to meet U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is scheduled to meet the American leader next Tuesday. A Palestinian official said Mubarak pledged to work to force Israel to lift its confinement of Arafat to his Ramallah compound, where he has been holed up for more than a year.

Israel has rejected a Palestinian appeal to allow Arafat freedom of movement, saying he can leave his compound, but he might not be allowed to return. Initially, Abbas had said that he would not travel to Washington before an end to Arafat's confinement. But Tuesday, he said he and Arafat had agreed that Abbas should travel to America to "serve the (Palestinian) cause and our internal situation. Our goal and concern is that he (Arafat) would be free and travel wherever he wants."

Abbas said he would press Bush and other U.S. officials to make Israel comply with its road map requirements, including dismantling Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and ending restrictions on movement. The Palestinians have also been pressing Israel to release more of the estimated 7,700 Palestinians in Israeli jails. Israel has agreed to free several hundred, but has so far resisted Palestinian demands for a mass release.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa told reporters Tuesday that he will protest to the United Nations over the recent entrances of groups of Israelis to Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque. "This is a provocation directed at all Muslims, it is a very serious issue ... (that) will provoke violence and reaction once again," Moussa said.

In recent weeks, Israeli police have been escorting small groups of tourists and Jews on short visits to the site of the Al Aqsa mosque, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary, Islam's third-holiest shrine, that Jews say was built over the ruins of the biblical Jewish Temples. Jews refer to the hilltop as the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site.

Palestinian riots erupted on Sept. 28, 2000, after Sharon, then leader of the parliamentary opposition, made a highly publicized trip to the site, saying he was there to underline Israel's sovereignty.

[yonif]

1. Militants = terrorists

2. This is more evidence that Abbas is on ths side of the terrorists, as he is a terrorist himself and a co-leader of the PLO terrorist organization. We are strengthing him, giving him money, urging Israel to give him and his terrorist groups land, etc. at the expense of Israeli lives that are soon to come.

3. And he is even invited to the White House, what a deal!

[EternalVigilance]

Burn the map. It leads to a cliff.

[nina0113]

I keep hoping Abbas will morph into an Arab version of Begin, though the Irgun wasn't nearly as terrorist as Hamas.

If the Israelis are going to deal with the "Palestinians" at all, they're going to have to deal with terrorists, because what moderate "Palestinians" exist (and I believe there are actually many) have been keeping their heads down for years, trying to avoid being hung upside down from water towers as collaborators.

I don't know why Abbas is concerned about civil war - the terrorists won't shoot each other, and the people who just want to be left in peace will continue keeping their heads down, so who's going to fight who?

[joesnuffy]

Abbas is Arafat's alter ego- imo

[ought-six]

There will never be peace between Israel and the Arabs. As the man once said: "It just ain't gonna happen."

[yonif]

There is a way to deal with the "Palestinians"

For starters, destroy the Palestinian Authority. Next destroy the terrorist infrastructure, etc. More of the plan can be seen here: http://www.therightroadtopeace.com

Abbas is nothing but Arafat's second in command since 1964, he is a holocaust denier, and one of the planners of the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist massacre.

[chachacha]

Suprised?

[Clara Lou]

Abbas says cracking down on Hamas and Islamic Jihad 'not an option at all
Great. The only difference between Abbas and Arafat is that Arafat organized and openly supported terrorism while Abbas just lets it happen. Wonderful.

[nina0113]

In the West Bank, in Northern Ireland, in Kashmir, in Chechen, in any other trouble spot you can name, there are vast quantities of people who want only to get up in the morning, go to work, come home to their families, sleep with their spouses and get up to do it all again the next day.

I feel real pity for those people, surrounded by violence that they want no part in, but can't escape or denounce, for fear of bringing it down on their own heads.

[yonif]

I feel real pity for those people, surrounded by violence that they want no part in, but can't escape or denounce, for fear of bringing it down on their own heads.

Most Arabs in Judea, Samaria and Gaza support the terrorist activities against Israel and the destruction of Israel.

When the Palestinians say "End of occupation",What do they mean?

[yonif]

Great. The only difference between Abbas and Arafat is that Arafat organized and openly supported terrorism while Abbas just lets it happen.

Nah. Abbas/Mazen openly supports terrorism as well, by calling for the release of terrorists! The only difference between Abbas/Mazen and Arafat, as the ZOA president has said, is that "Mazen shaves and wears a suit"

[nina0113]

The ones who say they DON'T support it end up hanging upside down from water towers. If you knew you'd be killed as a collaborator, what would you say?

[RonHolzwarth]

re: "There will never be peace between Israel and the Arabs. As the man once said: "It just ain't gonna happen.""

Sure there will be peace between Israel and the Arabs!

When the Messiah comes! (That's what Jews believe)

from the Old Testament:
Ezek.22
[28] And her prophets have daubed for them with whitewash, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, `Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken.

Or, when Jesus returns to finish His job! (That's what Christians believe)

from the New Testament:
Matt.7
[15] "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
[24] For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Or, when Muhammad returns! (That's what Moslems believe)

[Courier]

Prediction- In a few days there will be a photo-op in the White House where sitting next to Abbas, Bush will compliment the peacemaker on the great job he is doing.

Sure hope nobody asks Bush to name just one positive thing Abbas has done.

Hell, what am I thinking. The only questions asked will be if Israel is "doing enough". Retreating, releasing captured terrorists, boarding the cattle cars?

[yonif]

Let's give Abbas $30M dollars to celebrate!

[DonQ]

The title of this thread conflicts with the body of the story. It's absolutely right that cracking down on Hamas and other murder organizations is not an "option" -- it's a basic, bred-in-the-bone, necessity. If the PA doesn't do something to stop these killers the entire Road Map will crash and burn - and with it the last hopes of a new Palestinian state.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[Helms]

These slime balls keep trying to seek advantage, just like the UN. Is the media still do the "he said-she said" and if so
this pornography of violence will continue on our TV's ad infinitum.

[Helms]

Hell, what am I thinking. The only questions asked will be if Israel is "doing enough". Retreating, releasing captured terrorists, boarding the cattle cars?

Kinda like California releasing sex offenders out of jail, yuck. They need a civil war

[Binyamin]

I see you too have seen this movie before.