First test for President Abbas

NY Daily News ^ | January 15 2005

[knighthawk]

Forgive this latest bunch of Palestinian bombers if they are a little puzzled today: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has actually issued a statement condemning them for Thursday's murderous blast in Gaza, and they are not accustomed to getting scolded by the UN, which usually finds reasons to blame their Israeli victims for pretty much everything instead. This time around, though, the world is looking at a Gaza strike that is, quite unmistakably, a flat-out terrorist defiance of new Palestinian chief Mahmoud Abbas' peacemaking program. Even Kofi is obliged at this point to find these gangsters at least semideplorable. For this incident - six Israelis dead in a checkpoint attack brazenly launched from a Palestinian Authority base - has left in wreckage most of the emerging Mideast goodwill so recently hailed. Mere days ago it was that Israel's Ariel Sharon personally opened talks with the freshly elected Abbas; mere days ago it was that President Bush declared Abbas welcome in the White House. The murderers have turned things around in a heartbeat. Israel has quite properly frozen all relations with Abbas - on the very eve of his presidential inauguration today, an action clearly intended by Sharon as a public slap - and will not speak to him again, until he demonstrates that, indeed, he is serious about cracking down hard on his side's malefactors.

It is understood that this will not be the easiest thing in the world for Abbas to do. Still, he must make a very genuine, very public effort. Israel is probably quite correct that Abbas knows good and well who was behind the Thursday bombing. We would think that dragging them in and meting out tough justice for all to see would go a long way toward establishing his sincerity. As well as his personal authority. Is Mahmoud Abbas the man in charge? Let him show it.

[CAluvdubya]

Kofi's on the campaign trail.

[handy old one]

He wanted the job, now he has it, do it! He should have been able to see how the actions would show themselves look at the past! Those who do not study history are bound to repeat it over and over. Isn't that the definition of insanity doing the same thing and expecting a different result?

[Ken H]

Abbas campaign slogan: "Take a Chance on Me"

[claudiustg]

---Is Mahmoud Abbas the man in charge?---

That depends on what the meaning of "in charge" is. For the most part no one is really in charge. Most of these terrorists groups have been acting independently for some time now and will have to be rooted out down to the lowest levels. I don't think even Arafat was really calling the shots the last few years.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Diogenesis]

SSDD

Abu Abbas' first widely known murder of Jews at the Munich Olympics ===================

[sarah_f]

"What's that you say Ahmed? In thirty years, the President of the United States will lead the world in calling for the establishment of our own nation?!?!"

"Put away the hash pipe, we have work to do."

[gakrak]

"Israel is probably quite correct that Abbas knows good and well who was behind the Thursday bombing. We would think that dragging them in and meting out tough justice for all to see would go a long way toward establishing his sincerity."
Abbas isn't going to do anything to these thugs. Based on his own statements this month.
Jan. 1: Abbas declares that he will never crack down on Palestinian terrorism.

Jan. 4: Abbas calls Israel ``the Zionist enemy.'' That phrase is so odious that only Hezbollah and Iran and others openly dedicated to the extermination of Israel use it.

So Bush wants to entertain this terrorist in the White House, GWB may want to reconsider the invitation.