For once, Abu Mazen is right

It is a rare occasion indeed when patriotic Israelis find themselves in agreement with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas (a.k.a. Abu Mazen).

With his history of empty promises and deceit, including the publication of a book denying the Holocaust, the Palestinian leader can hardly be looked to in order to provide truthful political analysis.

But in interviews published over the weekend with a British and an American newspaper, Abu Mazen – for once – has hit the nail squarely on the head.

Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to carry out unilateral withdrawals in Judea and Samaria, Abu Mazen said, “The Israelis say: 'OK, we'll impose a unilateral solution' -- which means that they will postpone, delay ... and they will not solve the problem. After 10 years our sons will feel it is unfair and they will return back to the struggle... Nobody will accept it. The struggle will continue.”

As the Palestinian leader implicitly points out, one of the key weaknesses of Mr. Olmert’s plan is that Israel will be abandoning further territory in exchange for nothing – no agreement, no peace and no end to terror. If anything, Mr. Olmert’s plan will only serve to strengthen the hand of Palestinian terrorists, giving them additional territory alongside Israel’s borders from which to carry out further attacks.

Abu Mazen’s prediction is that the Olmert plan will lead to war. It is a gloomy assessment – but sadly, it is also likely to prove accurate.

Taking a break

I am off to Russia to visit with the Subbotnik Jews of the former Soviet Union (you can find out more about this intriguing community here), so I won't be posting for the next few days. Please check back on Friday, September 1, when I hope to start re-posting. Thanks.

What about Israel's Missing Soldiers?

It has been 10 days now since the UN-mandated cease-fire went into effect in Lebanon, and a key provision of the arrangement remains unfulfilled.

With the media turning its attention elsewhere, the plight of the three Israeli soldiers being held by Hizbullah and Hamas has largely fallen off the radar screen.

That, of course, is both outrageous and completely unacceptable.

It was, after all, the abduction of the soldiers – Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev – by Islamist terrorists which sparked the conflict in the first place. And UN Security Council resolution 1701, which brought about the cease-fire, requires the soldiers' speedy return.

More importantly, however, is the human dimension. For the Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev families, the war has not yet ended so long as their loved ones remain in captivity. The uncertainty and doubt they are living with each day can not and should not be allowed to continue.

It is therefore essential that we raise a hue and a cry and demand that pressure be brought to bear on the Lebanese government and the Palestinian Authority to ensure the safe return of Israel's missing servicemen.

With the US and various European nations planning to send millions of dollars to Lebanon to help rebuild the country's infrastructure, there is certainly room to link those funds with the full implementation of the resolution. This lever should be applied forthwith, so that the ongoing nightmare surrounding the fate of the missing soldiers can finally be brought to an end.