An editorial in the Jordan Times this week places the blame for the inability of the PLO and Israel to reach a truce squarely on the shoulders of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. His ?stubborn insistence,? according to the editorial, ?that the truce should simply be a matter of security, should include seven days of calm before negotiations could start and should mean an end to the Palestinian Intifada is clearly designed at making sure that there will never be a truce at all.? The article goes on to state that the Arab aim in the current terrorist war against Israel is to force Israel to alter its negotiating position regarding Jerusalem and the Arab refugees of the Israeli War of Independence. ?As long as the Palestinians are not assured that there is a shift in the Israeli position,? continues the Jordan Times piece, ?every Palestinian is ready to pick up a stone and throw it at any Israeli target.? While the author initially refers only to stone-throwing, later in the text, which appeared in print the morning of the three-pronged, Saturday night terrorist bombing in Jerusalem, he writes that ?the Palestinian attacks, including the suicide blasts targeting Israelis in the heart of Israel, clearly aim at convincing Israel that its stated objective of ?security? for its people would not be and could not be realized as long as the Palestinians are denied their rights to live in security, exercising their birthright to independence and dignity.? In a fit of undisguised admiration, the Jordan Times columnist writes, ?Obviously, the Palestinians are willing to give whatever it takes to realize their aspirations.?
The Jordan Times column states that, furthermore, ?Palestinian President Yasser Arafat cannot control all the Palestinian groups in the West Bank and Gaza.? He then proceeds to attribute a claim to that effect regarding ?the extremist settlers and fanatic Jewish fundamentalists who are bent upon stirring up trouble? allegedly made by the Israeli Prime Minister, ?It is similar to Sharon's own argument that he is in no position to control all Israeli groups?.? Stating the facts as he sees them rather matter-of-factly, the author continues, ?[I]t is naive to expect Arafat to order a sweeping crackdown on Palestinian groups which see no point in negotiating at all with the Israelis, as demanded by Sharon.? Simply put, ?We Arabs know well that Arafat cannot issue an order to end the Intifada today that would bring an end to the Intifada tomorrow.? Not only actually putting an end to violent terrorism, but even identifying suicide bombings of Israeli kids for what they are, according to the Jordan Times article, is a problem for Arafat: ?One could only imagine how miserable Arafat must have felt when he had no choice but to call Palestinian suicide attacks terrorism. Still, Sharon is not satisfied.?
Not hopeful at all that Israelis will be persuaded by Arab suicide bombings of their children, the Jordan Times columnist states that ?the continuing cycle of violence? would be a perennial feature of the situation throughout and it would be naive to expect the effort not to be hindered by bloodshed? It would not be surprising at all to read of continued Palestinian suicide attacks against Israelis a few years down the line?? even if all other issues but Jerusalem and the 1948 refugees are eventually settled.
The Jordan Times column states that, furthermore, ?Palestinian President Yasser Arafat cannot control all the Palestinian groups in the West Bank and Gaza.? He then proceeds to attribute a claim to that effect regarding ?the extremist settlers and fanatic Jewish fundamentalists who are bent upon stirring up trouble? allegedly made by the Israeli Prime Minister, ?It is similar to Sharon's own argument that he is in no position to control all Israeli groups?.? Stating the facts as he sees them rather matter-of-factly, the author continues, ?[I]t is naive to expect Arafat to order a sweeping crackdown on Palestinian groups which see no point in negotiating at all with the Israelis, as demanded by Sharon.? Simply put, ?We Arabs know well that Arafat cannot issue an order to end the Intifada today that would bring an end to the Intifada tomorrow.? Not only actually putting an end to violent terrorism, but even identifying suicide bombings of Israeli kids for what they are, according to the Jordan Times article, is a problem for Arafat: ?One could only imagine how miserable Arafat must have felt when he had no choice but to call Palestinian suicide attacks terrorism. Still, Sharon is not satisfied.?
Not hopeful at all that Israelis will be persuaded by Arab suicide bombings of their children, the Jordan Times columnist states that ?the continuing cycle of violence? would be a perennial feature of the situation throughout and it would be naive to expect the effort not to be hindered by bloodshed? It would not be surprising at all to read of continued Palestinian suicide attacks against Israelis a few years down the line?? even if all other issues but Jerusalem and the 1948 refugees are eventually settled.