Weekly Commentary: PA not seriously fighting terror because doesn't oppose
it

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 27 March, 2008

"The American officers responsible for monitoring Israeli and Palestinian
compliance with the road map peace plan recently criticized the Palestinian
Authority's counterterrorism efforts.Specifically, the Americans are
concerned that the PA does not engage in the full spectrum of
counterterrorism activities, including arrests, interrogation and trial.
Trials generally take place only if the PA is under external pressure...when
they do take place, they are generally hasty affairs."
U.S. road map monitors: PA failing in fight against terror
By Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent 26
March 2008

Let's put the cards on the table.

It isn't because of a lack of resources that the Palestinian Authority
declines to implement serious and consistent measures against the
terrorists.

Nor does a lack of will explain the situation.

The stark truth is that notwithstanding all the verbiage about Palestinian
"moderates" and "friends of peace", the PA - from Mahmoud Abbas down -
doesn't
consider terror activity against Israelis to be fundamentally unacceptable.
At most they may quibble over the efficacy of a given attack and criticize
it for being counter productive.

"Moderate" Abbas' attitude about terror is brutally illustrated by his
demand that each and every terrorist now being held by Israel be set free -
regardless of what crime he committed or when he committed it.

Again. Abbas is not calling for Israel to transfer these criminals to PA
prisons. As far as he is concerned, if Israel captures a Palestinian
murdering an Israeli this morning, that murderer should be set free this
afternoon.

This is not a minor issue.

It makes the entire "peace process" a farce.

And the sooner Israel's leadership realizes this and acts on it the better.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il