Posted on 11/28/2004 6:47:10 AM PST by SJackson
Prime Minister Sharon says he'll "make every effort" to coordinate the disengagement with the PA, while Abu Mazen says that the situation is currently too chaotic for him to accept Gaza.
Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) spoke in separate interviews in the current edition of Newsweek.
In his interview, Abu Mazen - likely to be chosen the new PA chief in the upcoming elections six weeks from now - said, "We are ready to take [Gaza] when we rebuild our security apparatus. If you tell me [do it] now, I'll say I cannot, but I'm working very hard to rebuild the security apparatus." Asked if the disengagement "must wait for you to rebuild your security apparatus?" Abu Mazen responded, "Now we have some sort of chaos, especially in Gaza... We have to rebuild and rehabilitate. It will take some time."
In keeping with the goal of bringing law and order to Gaza, the PA announced yesterday its intention to unify some of its security organizations, and even to disband a unit known as the "death squad." Domestic tranquility is not yet on the horizon in PA areas, however, as Hamas, the Al-Aqsa Brigades and other terror militias have no plans at present to hand in their arms.
Also in the current edition of Newsweek, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon took his second step towards ruling out the "unilateral" aspect of his withdrawal/expulsion plan from Gush Katif and northern Shomron. He told Newsweek's Lally Weymouth that he would actually "make every effort" to coordinate the disengagement with the PA leadership. Almost two weeks ago, he took his first step by implying for the first time that he would not rule out some form of coordination with the new Palestinian Authority leadership, "if it fights terrorism and carries out reforms."
If Sharon in fact "coordinates" with the PA and waits for it to be "ready," the disengagement may well be pushed off.
Both Sharon and Abu Mazen told Newsweek that they would be willing to meet each other, as they have in the past. Sharon never agreed to meet Yasser Arafat.
Sharon had warm words for Abu Mazen, saying that he "was against terror." Sharon did not mention Abu Mazen's central role in PLO terrorism even quite recently. Just over a year and a half ago, Abu Mazen told the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat that though a "temporary cease-fire" in the war against Israel had been agreed upon, "We did not say, however, that we are giving up the armed struggle... The Intifada must continue."
Prime Minister Sharon made clear that he would try to coordinate the withdrawal with a PA regime "that can assume control over areas we evacuate."
Abu Mazen, for his part, said that he must deal "delicately" with Hamas. "I started a dialogue with Hamas, PIJ [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] and the Al Aqsa Brigades," he said. "I cannot say that we have reached an agreement. Our goal is to cool down the whole situation, to stop all kinds of violence and terror... We have to deal with [Hamas] delicately. We have to ask them to stop everything - to have law and order."
Abu Mazen also said he would demand that Israel stop building the counter-terrorism partition fence, calling it "uncivilized."
The Israeli leader said he demands an immediate end to "incitement in the Palestinian broadcasting and the press," as well as "a cessation of terror." Sharon said Israel would not release murderers, but that it would facilitate the PA elections by "opening the roads and taking our forces out of their towns."
"10 years....."
Asked if the disengagement "must wait for you to rebuild your security apparatus?" Abu Mazen responded, "Now we have some sort of chaos, especially in Gaza... We have to rebuild and rehabilitate. It will take some time."
These people have NEVER known anything except chaos and disorder. If they had a relatively peaceful period, we would call it Saturday night in Tombstone Arizona.
"Now we have some sort of chaos, especially in Gaza... "
Nothing sharpens the mind like an extra helping of chaos. How did Mao put it: "great order comes from great disorder"?
Has Abu Mazen ever publicly recanted and apologized for his Holocaust denial crap?
Building a fence is "uncivilized"? Sad....
Strapping bombs to 14 year olds is... whuuh?
Too chaotic? Aw, that's sad. First Israel doesn't pull out fast enough, now it's pulling out too fast. Of course, Sharon will coordinate with the PLO thug, because it fits under the heading, "give them enough rope and they'll hang themselves." Sharon wants the Arab state to be based in Gaza. He wants it to prosper. He wants it to not be the base for attacks on Israel. And he wants every Arab calling itself "Palestinian" to settle there.
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