Moti Zaken, Arab Affairs advisor to Public Security Minister Uzi Landau, told Arutz-7 this morning that the only achievement he can see in the upcoming Cairo conference of Palestinian terrorist groups is Egypt's success in convening it. Islamic Jihad and Hamas announced yesterday that they would attend the conference, in reversal of their decision of the day before - but have not promised to stop murdering Jews. On the contrary; even Fatah, which is officially part of the PA but which has murdered plenty of Jews over the past two years, announced today that it would continue sending human bombs to murder Jews. Hamas made a similar announcement today.
Despite this, Egypt continues to make efforts. "At the start of the Oslo War," Zaken said, "the Americans tried to get [Egyptian President Hosni] Mubarak to take an active role in stopping the terrorism - but Mubarak did not answer the call. Now, however, he is making real efforts to gather together all the PA organizations to stop terrorism for a year, so that negotiations with Israel can get underway." Prime Minister Sharon has long insisted, in contrast to the Labor Party, that negotiations cannot proceed until terrorism stops.
The chances, however, of actually achieving a ceasefire are small, Zaken said: "Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi showed his true intentions when he made it contingent upon a cessation of 'Israeli terrorism'… In addition, at issue is an agreement only to stop murdering Israeli civilians - excluding soldiers and civilians who live in Judea, Samaria and Gaza."
In light of the "dancing on the rooftops" by Arab residents of Yesha when Iraq Scuds rained down on Israeli cities in 1991, Zaken was asked about the situation today. "The Palestinians' support for Saddam Hussein is long-standing," he said.
Despite this, Egypt continues to make efforts. "At the start of the Oslo War," Zaken said, "the Americans tried to get [Egyptian President Hosni] Mubarak to take an active role in stopping the terrorism - but Mubarak did not answer the call. Now, however, he is making real efforts to gather together all the PA organizations to stop terrorism for a year, so that negotiations with Israel can get underway." Prime Minister Sharon has long insisted, in contrast to the Labor Party, that negotiations cannot proceed until terrorism stops.
The chances, however, of actually achieving a ceasefire are small, Zaken said: "Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi showed his true intentions when he made it contingent upon a cessation of 'Israeli terrorism'… In addition, at issue is an agreement only to stop murdering Israeli civilians - excluding soldiers and civilians who live in Judea, Samaria and Gaza."
In light of the "dancing on the rooftops" by Arab residents of Yesha when Iraq Scuds rained down on Israeli cities in 1991, Zaken was asked about the situation today. "The Palestinians' support for Saddam Hussein is long-standing," he said.