Subscribe to our daily e-mail newsletter

E-mail:

Israel News Feed Or subscribe to our RSS feed | What is RSS?
Israel News from Jerusalem Newswire
Palestinian Arabs

Abbas invites terrorists on board for pullout


By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
June 09, 2005

Now that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's ?disengagement? plan is no longer a unilateral Israeli affair, PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas has invited Gaza-based terrorist organizations to take part in coordinating the expulsion of local Jews.

Abbas traveled to Gaza Thursday in order to calm escalating tensions following a massive terrorist artillery barrage on Israeli communities in and around Gaza earlier this week.

Three people were killed and eight others wounded in mortar and rocket attacks on Sderot and southern Gaza's Ganei Tal Tuesday.

Abbas reportedly convinced Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror bosses to recommit to a temporary ?ceasefire? that has resulted in anything but a cessation of attacks on Israeli Jews.

The PLO chief has explained to ?Palestinians? the importance of proper timing in their aggression against the Jewish state, and maintains that now is a time for reaping diplomatic rewards for past violence through negotiations.

In order to bring Hamas and Islamic Jihad back under the purported truce, Abbas offered to let the terrorists help with preparations for Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza and northern Samaria.

A newly-established ?high national commission? will allow for the terrorists to ?coordinate and consult? with the ?Palestinian? leadership over the Israeli withdrawal, Samir Mashharawi, a senior member of Abbas's ruling Fatah faction, told reporters.

?Palestinian? terror groups have repeatedly stated their belief that violence has driven the Jews from Gaza and Samaria, and will eventually accomplish the same throughout the rest of the land. Observers feel Abbas's latest move will only strengthen that sentiment.

"The painful and qualitative blows which the Palestinian resistance dealt to the Jews and their soldiers over the past four-and-a-half years led to the decision to withdraw from the Gaza Strip," Ahmed al-Bahar, a top Hamas leader, said in March.

Sharon originally billed his plan as a unilateral measure implemented from a position of strength and as a result of the lack of a true ?Palestinian? peace partner.

Over the past several months that position has eroded to the point Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz is now set to hand over the blueprints of Gaza Jewish communities to the PA prior to the evacuation.

Thursday's reported deal between Abbas and the terror heads was quickly violated.

Just hours after the meeting, ?Palestinian? forces fired a missile at Jews in southern Gaza and two Kassam rockets at Sderot. There were no injuries in the attacks.

Like the article?
Help spread the word:
Jnewswire updates
Never miss another story
  • Inbox already too full?
    Subscribe to our
    RSS feed instead!