Arutz-7 commentator Haggai Huberman explained what he knew of the Sharon-Abu Ala talks:

"Sharon proposed to Abu Ala a form of the by-now familiar plan, to the effect that wherever it looks like the PA is acting against terrorism, Israel would withdraw its forces and turn over security control to the PA - just like the 'Bethlehem and Gaza first' plan. Essentially, this is the same recipe that has already been tried several times in the past and that has failed each time.

"It's quite clear to me that Sharon knows exactly what's going on: There's not one place in Judea, Samaria or Gaza that is ripe for this type of plan; even in areas where terrorism is down, it's only because of the IDF presence. Wherever there is no such presence, we have suffered: The 22 dead in the Hevron area are the results of the withdrawal from Hevron last October; and when we withdrew from Bethlehem, the result was the Kiryat Menachem bus bombing in November that killed 11... Along the seamline [Tul Karem, Kakilye, etc.] there is quiet, but that's because of the IDF actions and arrests; in the past few days, a few terrorists have been arrested as they were about to perpetrate attacks... In short, only the IDF presence is what is holding back terror attacks. A ceasefire agreement will simply make it easier for the terrorists to build their infrastructures and prepare for attacks. "



So why are these talks being held, Huberman was asked. His response:

"Both sides are interested in showing that there's talks. Sharon knows that after Iraq, there will be intensified American interest in our region. He therefore wants to be able to show that there's something going on, as if to tell the Americans that they don't have to come down on us too hard. He doesn't want them forcing the Road Map timetable on him... The Palestinians are interested in having talks because they want to do everything they can to show that they're not associated with Saddam Hussein. They're trying to extricate themselves from this image, especially as Saddam's fall will put his allies next on the target..."



Huberman concluded that he has trouble believing that Sharon "is really pushing for a process with dangers of which he is quite aware. I'm not saying we can be complacent - he needs to be watched very carefully - but I don't think he will let these talks come to fruition and lead to a withdrawal, certainly not at present."