The PA, in an effort to deflect pressure from Israel and the world community, is interested in the resumption of the hudna, and to this end has renewed talks with Hamas. It is widely felt that despite recent tough talk and threats sounded by PA leaders against Hamas and Islamic Jihad following the bus attack in Jerusalem, Israel's targeted killing of Hamas leader Abu Shanab on Thursday has taken Abu Mazen off the hook. Ironically, Hamas and the PLO's Fatah issued public warnings to Abu Mazen and Dahlan not to take action against their organizations.
Egyptian official Osama El-Baz and U.S. envoy John Wolfe conducted talks with Israeli and PA diplomats over the weekend. Muhammad Dahlan, responsible for some security agencies in the PA, presented Wolfe with a multi-faceted security plan, including the deployment of hundreds of armed policemen to deal with the Kassam rockets in northern Gaza. His plan also includes measures to deal with the arms-smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza, terror organizations' bank accounts, and the thwarting of terrorist capabilities in Bethlehem. Maariv newspaper reports today that the Americans decided to check on the efficacy of these plans - and found that aside from the blockage of four tunnels out of dozens, Dahlan has done practically nothing. Dahlan blames Arafat for blocking anti-terror efforts, calling him a "dog" and a "liar," according to Israeli and American sources quoted in Maariv.
Despite the fact that it is widely agreed that Arafat has in fact been sabotaging all peace efforts, the Shabak (General Security Service) continues to recommend that Arafat not be expelled. This, in order that he not be granted martyr status and the chance to traipse from one national capital to another.
Egyptian official Osama El-Baz and U.S. envoy John Wolfe conducted talks with Israeli and PA diplomats over the weekend. Muhammad Dahlan, responsible for some security agencies in the PA, presented Wolfe with a multi-faceted security plan, including the deployment of hundreds of armed policemen to deal with the Kassam rockets in northern Gaza. His plan also includes measures to deal with the arms-smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza, terror organizations' bank accounts, and the thwarting of terrorist capabilities in Bethlehem. Maariv newspaper reports today that the Americans decided to check on the efficacy of these plans - and found that aside from the blockage of four tunnels out of dozens, Dahlan has done practically nothing. Dahlan blames Arafat for blocking anti-terror efforts, calling him a "dog" and a "liar," according to Israeli and American sources quoted in Maariv.
Despite the fact that it is widely agreed that Arafat has in fact been sabotaging all peace efforts, the Shabak (General Security Service) continues to recommend that Arafat not be expelled. This, in order that he not be granted martyr status and the chance to traipse from one national capital to another.