Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and PA Chairman Abu Mazen met yesterday in Jerusalem, for their first meeting since the Sharm el-Sheikh summit four months ago.
Sharon's primary objective was his demand that Abu Mazen put a stop to the renewed terrorism wave. The PA chairman, however, would not provide such a guarantee.
"The cloud of terror attacks hovered over the meeting," said PA bigwig Saeb Erekat, who was present, "and in such an atmosphere, it is hard to reach positive results. You [Israelis] and we are both bad students of our common history; we always let the extremists win." He was evidently equating the murderous Palestinian terrorists with the Jewish "colonial settlers" of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Another PA senior, Abu Ala, said, "It was a difficult meeting that did not meet our expectations. What [Sharon] presented was not satisfactory, and I cannot say that there is an agreement."
Abu Mazen himself said the same at a press conference afterwards in Ramallah.
Sources close to Sharon rebuffed this appraisal. They said the Arab demands were "absolutely exaggerated," the talks were "to the point," and that the Prime Minister had expressed his willingness to make concessions in exchange for a genuine PA fight against terrorism.
Sharon said that he also concluded an agreement to bi-lateralize the withdrawal: The PA would take responsibility for ensuring no terror attacks during the actual expulsion, while Israel is to hand over to the PA security control of Bethlehem and Kalkilye in the "near future."
Arab-press expert Dr. Michael Widlanski reported that a few hours before the Sharon-Abbas meeting, the PA's state-controlled media issued a list of Abbas' demands. The list includes the following:
* Release from Israeli jails of all convicted Palestinian terrorists, including murderers - a total of several thousand.
* Release from British custody in Jericho of Fuad Shubaki, who arranged a huge arms transfer from Iran to the PA aboard the transport ship 'Karine-A' that Israel intercepted in 2002;
* Release from British custody in Jericho of Ahmed Saadat, leader of the PFLP terror group that murdered Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Ze'evi in Jerusalem in 2001;
* Removal of all roadblocks around PA-controlled cities, as well as turning over a Gaza airport and seaport to complete PA control.
In addition, Widlanski notes, PA television has replayed for three days in a row, at the top of the news, an interview with Abbas in which he reiterated that he was not willing to lift a finger to try and disarm anyone in Hamas, Islamic Jihad or his own Fatah party.
In accordance with agreements made in Sharm el-Sheikh four months ago, Israel has released 900 PA terrorists in two stages. Some of them immediately returned to carrying out terror operations, including planned suicide attacks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Sharon's primary objective was his demand that Abu Mazen put a stop to the renewed terrorism wave. The PA chairman, however, would not provide such a guarantee.
"The cloud of terror attacks hovered over the meeting," said PA bigwig Saeb Erekat, who was present, "and in such an atmosphere, it is hard to reach positive results. You [Israelis] and we are both bad students of our common history; we always let the extremists win." He was evidently equating the murderous Palestinian terrorists with the Jewish "colonial settlers" of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Another PA senior, Abu Ala, said, "It was a difficult meeting that did not meet our expectations. What [Sharon] presented was not satisfactory, and I cannot say that there is an agreement."
Abu Mazen himself said the same at a press conference afterwards in Ramallah.
Sources close to Sharon rebuffed this appraisal. They said the Arab demands were "absolutely exaggerated," the talks were "to the point," and that the Prime Minister had expressed his willingness to make concessions in exchange for a genuine PA fight against terrorism.
Sharon said that he also concluded an agreement to bi-lateralize the withdrawal: The PA would take responsibility for ensuring no terror attacks during the actual expulsion, while Israel is to hand over to the PA security control of Bethlehem and Kalkilye in the "near future."
Arab-press expert Dr. Michael Widlanski reported that a few hours before the Sharon-Abbas meeting, the PA's state-controlled media issued a list of Abbas' demands. The list includes the following:
* Release from Israeli jails of all convicted Palestinian terrorists, including murderers - a total of several thousand.
* Release from British custody in Jericho of Fuad Shubaki, who arranged a huge arms transfer from Iran to the PA aboard the transport ship 'Karine-A' that Israel intercepted in 2002;
* Release from British custody in Jericho of Ahmed Saadat, leader of the PFLP terror group that murdered Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Ze'evi in Jerusalem in 2001;
* Removal of all roadblocks around PA-controlled cities, as well as turning over a Gaza airport and seaport to complete PA control.
In addition, Widlanski notes, PA television has replayed for three days in a row, at the top of the news, an interview with Abbas in which he reiterated that he was not willing to lift a finger to try and disarm anyone in Hamas, Islamic Jihad or his own Fatah party.
In accordance with agreements made in Sharm el-Sheikh four months ago, Israel has released 900 PA terrorists in two stages. Some of them immediately returned to carrying out terror operations, including planned suicide attacks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.