Abbas: Israel's strike against Hamas undermines peace efforts

Jerusalem Post ^ | Aug. 21, 2003 | THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF

[yonif]

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said that Israel's killing of a top Hamas leader on Thursday would undermine Palestinian efforts to crackdown on militant groups. Israeli helicopters fired five missiles at a car in the Gaza Strip, killing Hamas leader Ismail Abu Shanab and two of his bodyguards.

Speaking to reporters outside his office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Abbas condemned the killing. "There is no doubt that what the Israeli troops carried out today is an ugly crime," he said. "We condemn such acts. This is against peace and the peace process." A faltering, U.S.-backed peace plan calls on the Palestinians to crackdown on militant groups, but Abbas has resisted doing so for fear of setting off a civil war.

"This for sure will affect the whole (peace) process and the decision taken (last night) by the Palestinian Authority," he said.

US Mideast envoy overseeing implementation of the road map peace plan, John Wolf, met with Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, pressuring the Palestinian prime minister to take action to dismantle the terror infrastructure.

Top Islamic Jihad militants went underground Thursday in fear of their lives after Israel declared it would carry out targeted assassinations against the terror chiefs and the Palestinian Authority announced it would begin to crack down on the militant activity.

The Palestinian Authority decided Wednesday to crack down on the militant groups in response to the Jerusalem bus bombing and said that it would begin to collect weapons and would forbid militant demonstrations.

In an emergency session of the Palestinian government late Wednesday night, it was decided to shut down Hamas and Islamic Jihad institutions and to forbid the publication of the militant group's magazines and newspapers.

A Palestinian official said Wednesday that previous attempts by the PA security forces to arrest Hamas leaders resulted in an armed clash between the two sides. He said the Palestinian "street" would not accept such a crackdown as long as Israel continues with its military operations in the West Bank, including the construction of the security fence.

Abbas met with the entire Palestinian cabinet at Arafat's Ramallah compound Wednesday night to discuss the planned measures to be taken against the militants.

Abbas was reportedly to deliver Arafat an ultimatum to support an unprecedented clampdown on Hamas and Islamic Jihad or he would hand in his resignation.

According to an AFP report, Abbas was to make four requests of Arafat:

That he and the Fatah central committee present a written declaration supporting action by the Palestinian Authority against Hamas and Islamic Jihad; that he support moves to dismantle the armed wings of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad and collect their weapons; that he approves direct steps against the two groups, such as a ban on media outlets from allowing Hamas and Islamic Jihad spokespeople to appear in their broadcasts, and to block their funding.

Finally, Abbas is to demand that Arafat approve an order uniting all the Palestinian security organizations under the authority of the interior ministry.

The demands were drafted largely by Abbas and Minister for Security Affairs Mohammed Dahlan, and received the full backing of the cabinet at an emergency session in Gaza City overnight.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned Abbas Wednesday and demanded that the Palestinian Prime Minister take action against the terrorist groups.

Powell told Abbas that Israel would allow the Palestinian Authority time to act on its decision.

(With The Associated Press)

[yonif]

That's funny, I thought you-were against the terrorists. So why would you be sad if Israel killed a few? Wouldn't you thank Israel? /sarcasm

[yonif]

Powell told Abbas that Israel would allow the Palestinian Authority time to act on its decision.

Is there a body count cap Powell is talking about?

[dfwgator]

Screw peace...it's time to go to the mattresses.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Israel killing a Hamas terrorist undermines "peace efforts"...but of course the Palestinians bombing a bus full of civilians (children mostly) does not.

[Bikers4Bush]

What's "ugly" abbass is a suicide murderer killing innocent men, women and children on a bus.

Targeting terrorists for selective revocation of their right to live license is not.

[AMNZ]

I guess it is just the number of times I have heard this from them that makes me not find this unbelievable.

[SouthernFreebird]

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said that Israel's killing of a top Hamas leader on Thursday would undermine Palestinian efforts to crackdown on militant groups.

If your goal is to get rid of terrorist wouldn't what Israel just did be a start!

[Arkie2]

Same stupid crap from the Palestinians. It's OK if we murder children but if Israel takes out a terrorist that's wrong. The roamap just blew out the window. Israel should continue hunting down and eliminating the thugs.

[Catspaw]

This is against peace and the peace process.

So is the slaughter of innocents. Apparently, Abbas doesn't get it--as if he ever did.

[mtbopfuyn]

Abbas condemned the killing. "There is no doubt that what the Israeli troops carried out today is an ugly crime," he said. "We condemn such acts.

I condemn Abbas.

[veracious]

There will not be any peace until the Palestinians stop their terrorists. Israel has every right and is expected to defend itself.

[lilylangtree]

"Pali efforts to crackdown on militants" Huh? But Abbas, you already said you wouldn't disarm the terrorists because if you had complied with the road map to h**l agreement they would have been disarmed and in jail already. Innocents would not have been murdered. Palis have never nor will ever want peace. Abbas is fraud like his mentor and boss-behind-the-scenes araRAT.

[coloradan]

Screw peace...it's time to go to the mattresses.

Do you mean, it's time to go to the mat, as in boxing, or to the mattress, as in, someone's going to get f****d?

[ChewedGum]

The roamap just blew out the window. Israel should continue hunting down and eliminating the thugs.

I agree strongly on both points!

Gum

[CyberAnt]

Only after Israel strikes Hamas does it undermine the peace efforts, and cancel Hamas' truce ..??

Can somebody explain why Hamas striking Israel didn't "undermine the peace efforts", or "cancel the truce" ..??

[Spok]

Abbas will use this excuse to do nothing about Hamas...as if he would have anyway.

[Mat_Helm]

What Bush and Powell should have said months ago to the Palestinian Authority:

"Mr. Abbas this is your last chance for peace. Israel has shown restraint but it is not unlimited. The terror organizations must be dismantled and stoped or there will never be peace. This is your last chance to put an end to the violence and have a PA state. If you fail to take immediate action against the terror organizations there will come a time when Israel will have no choice but to put an end to it themselves and with the help of the United States and our war against terror. This will mean an end (annihilation) to the terror groups in Gaza and the West Bank, it will mean that many more Palestinians caught in the way will die, and it will mean no PA state for the forseable future, or ever. The choice is yours to make now. Failure to take action is not an option. If there is one more major terror bombing without any vissible prior efforts or any prior action by your security forces at least seen attmepting to arrest these groups, than you will have made your choice and will have to deal with the fact that Israel will be tunring your cities with terror cells in them into the parking lot for peace.

Can you hear me now Mr. Abbas? I am telling you to impliment the road map to peace along with Israel now or else it will become the parking lot to peace by paving over your ashes along with Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, and all the killers you failed to eliminate yourself. It is your choice and it is that simple. You know who these groups are, where they are, how they operate, when they operate and under who's orders they follow. Take the action yourself now or else you might find yourself taking a dirt nap besides Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, Iran, Syira courtesy of the IDF, USAF, USMC, USAA, USN.........."

[longjack]

I just saw a German "Spiegel" report that said Hamsa fired off 3 "homemade" ("Spiegel" put that in quotes) Kassam rockets onto Israeli villages/settlements from the Gaza Strip. The report also said Hamas fired mortar rounds into settlements. This was Thursday evening. Hamas claimed reponsibility.

I didn't see this anywhere else. "Spiegel" usually doesn't break news, they get it from dpa. dpa didn't have it, though.

Not sure if it's important, but FYI.

Link: (In German)

"Spiegel"..Hamas feuert Raketen auf israelische Orte ab

longjack

[yonif]

Yes that is correct. Israel communities today suffered from 2 Kassam rocket attacks. One community got about 12 Kassam rockets launched at her by terrorists, and had one house damaged. Another community suffered about 3 rockets.

[Wild Thing]

Hello Powell get this right you keep getting it wrong!

Palestinians= the enemy
Israel=good guys they are fighting the same terrorists we are supposed to be fighting.

Now write that down Powell, because you keep ( insert strong word here please!!!!!!!!!!) up!

Wild Thing