Vital Perspective

Madness is doing the same thing twice and expecting a different result

Has the Israeli government lost leave of its senses? Otherwise, we find it hard to understand this:

"Israel agreed to extensive training of members of the Presidential Guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in areas near Jericho, in the Jordan Valley....
The request for Israel to permit such extensive training was made through the Americans. Prior to this, Israel agreed to the transfer of thousands of rifles and ammunition to Abbas' Presidential Guard. The serial number of each weapon was registered in order to maintain at least minimal control over the weapons."

Not that the American government is doing any better for U.S. domestic security with this 24-hr amnesty madness.

Pathetic on all fronts.

That explains it

Via Imshin, we have the following fascinating perspective regarding the Palestinian propensity to blow themselves up along with other people in the Asia Times:

It is repulsive to think that a people of several millions, honeycombed with representatives of international organizations, the virtual stepchild of the United Nations, appears doomed to reduce its national fever by letting blood. The 700,000 refugees of 1948, hothoused by the UN relief agencies, prevented from emigrating by other Arab regimes, have turned into a people, but a test-tube nation incapable of independent national life: four destitute millions of third-generation refugees in the small and barren territories of Gaza, Judea and Samaria, which cannot support a fraction of that number.

The project of a Palestinian economy based on tourism and light manufacturing is a delusion in the globalized economy of Chinese-dominated trade in manufactures. The subsistence-farming fellahin should have left their land for economic reasons, like the Okies during the 1920s and 1930s, and dispersed into cities, like a hundred other rural populations of the so-called developing world. Kept hostage for political reasons, they cannot stay, and they cannot leave. They have chosen instead to fight, and if need be to die.

The Palestinians cannot hope to earn their keep in peacetime; their only hope is to keep the region in perpetual tension, the better to blackmail the West and the Arab Persian Gulf states for subsidies. Voting for Hamas, in other words, was a rational choice on strictly economic grounds. Economics was an afterthought, though. Without a viable alternative, the Palestinians might as well choose the leadership that best flatters their national feeling. Now this balancing act has broken down, largely because Iran has disrupted the fragile equilibrium among Palestinian factions. By turning to Tehran for funding, Hamas has made itself an outlaw, and the West as well as Saudi Arabia has no alternative but to support violent means to reduce a democratically chosen majority party.

Article also has an interesting perspective on Carter.

Bush Signs Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, Putting More Restrictions on Hamas

President Bush signed into law a bill meant to block U.S. aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government and ban contacts with Hamas until they renounce violence and recognize Israel. It also creates a $20 million fund to promote democracy, human rights, freedom of the press and peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), sponsor of the Senate bill with Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), said the legislation makes clear the Palestinian Authority can expect no U.S. help so long as it continues to be led by Hamas. "The Palestinian people are ill-served by a Hamas-led government that refuses to work toward the betterment of its citizens by failing to renounce terror and work toward peace with Israel," McConnell said.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) said she was pleased the president signed the bill she sponsored in the House. "By fixing his hand to this legislation today, President Bush has indicated that the U.S. will not, directly or indirectly, allow American taxpayer funds to be used to perpetuate the leadership of an Islamist jihadist entity like Hamas."

The White House said the legislation reflects the administration's concern over the current government's failure to renounce violence and terror, recognize Israel and respect previous agreements and obligations. Exceptions are made to provide financial support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has committed to a negotiated two-state solution with Israel.

Palestinian MP Accuses Israel of Using Chemical Weapons, Depleted Uranium

Palestinian Environment Minister Youssef Abu Sofia has accused Israel of using illegal chemical weapons in the Palestinian territories. "Analyses carried out in laboratories outside Palestine have shown that Israel has had recourse to banned chemical weapons and depleted uranium" Abu Sofia said. He made a similar claim in 2001.

He further accused Israel of having "transported major quantities of dangerous chemical products into the interior of the Palestinian territories thereby seriously polluting the water table".

Abu Sofia quoted figures from the Palestinian agriculture and environment ministry to the effect that "two million trees have been uprooted in the past six years, half a million of them olive trees". He said that Israel had refused the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the IAEA access to the Palestinian territories to look into the situation.

Similar accusations were made that Israel used depleted uranium munitions during the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon this summer. However, the UNEP found no evidence that Israel used munitions with depleted uranium during its conflict. After a three week investigation where samples were taken from 32 sites south and north of the Litani River, no depleted uranium shrapnel, or other radioactive residue, was found.

Two Fatah Gunmen Killed by Hamas After Ceasefire Goes into Effect in Gaza

MediaLine reports that a ceasefire between Fatah and Hamas went into effect Tuesday night at 23:00. Since that time, armed gunmen from both sides have been withdrawing from the streets of Gaza City. An operations room manned by security personnel from each group was set up to respond to outbreaks of violence.

According to the agreement, only police are allowed to be armed in the streets. Despite this, two Fatah gunmen were shot and killed in a street skirmish with Hamas operatives early this morning. Six people died yesterday before the truce went into effect, bringing the week's death toll to 16.

Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh made a television address imploring his constituents to end the internecine warfare and unite against Israel instead. He also used the opportunity to reject the call by President Mahmoud Abbas for early elections, calling it "unconstitutional" and accusing the U.S. of working behind the scenes to bring down his government.

Violence Intensifies in Gaza: Hamas Gunmen Open Fire on Women, Children

MediaLine reports that the violence in Gaza is intensifying, despite efforts by Hamas and Fatah leaders to rein in their armed wings. Hamas gunmen opened fire on a group of women and children to the north of Gaza City just a short while ago. Numerous women were wounded according to eyewitnesses.

The group was attempting to prevent Hamas from breaking into Palestinian General Intelligence headquarters where Palestinian Authority armed personnel were holed up. The women and children were barred from advancing and then gunmen opened fire on them, eyewitnesses said.

A panel of security officials from Egypt has met a team of Palestinian government staff in a bid to end the violence. According to Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman Khalid Abu Hilal, the sides agreed a three point plan:

1. All armed forces return to their bases
2. Release all those kidnapped and currently held by Palestinian factions
3. Create a joint committee of all armed forces to discuss a path out of the deadlock.

Residents of Jabaliyya, to the north of Gaza City, have fled their homes fearing they may become the next victims of mortar attacks by Hamas' Executive Force. The force, established as a direct challenge to the official Palestinian security forces has been involved in heavy exchanges of gunfire with Palestinian intelligence officers in the area.

The violence reached a new peak today when the street battles moved inside Gaza's A-Shifa medical complex. Mortar shells were fired inside the hospital’s emergency room. A member of Hamas, Ismail Abu Al-Kheir was killed and 11 people were wounded during the battle.

Nine schoolchildren were wounded and two armed officers were also killed today. The dead men were loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The bodies of two intelligence officers were discovered in a dumpster after they had been kidnapped.

Poll Shows Significant Support for Early Elections from Both Hamas and Fatah

MediaLine reports that the first Palestinian opinion survey since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for new elections shows a majority of 68 percent backing early elections. The poll, conducted by the Ramallah-based firm Near East Consulting, showed that support for elections was equally high among Fatah (69%) and Hamas (68%) supporters. Sixty percent of the population believes Hamas should participate in the election, but only 16% of Palestinians who view themselves as Hamas supporters, agree. The poll shows a significantly higher rate of trust for Abbas than for Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Calls for Elections; Hamas Calls it 'Coup'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has officially called for new presidential and parliamentary elections, a dramatic challenge to Hamas that threatens to touch off a civil war. The Hamas government accused Abbas of carrying out a "coup" against the Palestinian people, who voted them into power 11 months ago. Hamas leaders, including FM Mahmoud Zahar, called on Abbas to resign.

Abbas' dramatic announcement — made after he despaired of persuading Hamas to form a coalition government with Fatah — further hardened the lines between the two political rivals, at a time when factional fighting threatens to escalate.

Abbas is taking a big political gamble by trying to end his power struggle with Hamas through new balloting. The balloting could be deprived of legitimacy if boycotted by Hamas. Also, if Abbas does not run — he has said he would not seek another term — Palestinian moderates would not have a strong candidate and could easily lose the presidential vote.
 
Aides said the vote would be held as early as March, and that a date would be set within a week.

"We are not going to allow elections to take place,” said Zahar. "This is a real coup. He has never accepted this government. He has never sat in one government meeting. He has never invited one government minister to meet with foreign ministers." 

Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said Israeli PM Ehud Olmert "respects Abu Mazen and hopes that he will have the capability to assert his leadership over the Palestinian people, and to bring about a government that will comply with the international community’s principles."

Fatah Supporter Throws Grenade into Hamas Rally; Abbas Plans Major Address

MediaLine reports that a member of the Fatah faction hurled a hand grenade into the center of a Hamas demonstration in Gaza earlier today. Two Hamas members were wounded and the attacker was subdued by Hamas security personnel.

The incident has further increased the already rising tensions between the two factions and comes amid media reports that Fatah troops loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and supported by the U.S. are deploying throughout Gaza. Abbas has scheduled a major policy address for Saturday. He is expected to announce the dissolution of the Palestinian government, a move opposed by Hamas.

British PM Blair Declares He's 'Never Disputed Hamas's Legitimacy or Mandate'

During a news conference today in which he discussed a push for a Palestinian unity government, British PM Tony Blair declared that he has "never disputed Hamas's legitimacy or its mandate." Blair said he would spell out to Palestinian leaders during a Middle East trip what support they could expect in exchange for recognising Israel, crucial to restarting peace talks.

"It is important for us to say very clearly 'this is what we will do if you are prepared to accept that any negotiations on two states must be on the basis of mutual respect and mutual recognition'," Blair told a news conference.