By Stan Goodenough
Mar 02, 2008
PLO chief terrorist and Palestinian Authority "President" Mahmoud Abbas wasted no time Saturday responding to the IDF's accelerated action against rocket-launching Arabs in Gaza by announcing the freezing of "peace" talks with Israel.
Abbas-watchers believe the wily, veteran terrorist plans to use the increased violence to get what he can out of the Israelis, who are under intense international pressure to end their self-defense effort and return to the talks table.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due back in the region this week, and Abbas apparently believes she will turn the screws on Israel to back off and "pay" for its "aggression."
While Abbas didn't wait a moment to announce his freeze, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has weathered months of bitter criticism from his own people - including members of his Kadima Party - for insisting on pursuing the land-for-peace process despite the death and injury of Israelis at the hands of the Kassam killers.