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.
Pathetic to the point of being almost mind-boggling ... except that nothing suprises us much anymore.
Oh, and welcome back.
Posted by: Asher - Dreams Into Lightning | May 25, 2007 at 00:08
Welcome back!!
Posted by: dMCer | May 25, 2007 at 06:32
VP - I suspect a deeper strategem. Nothing will ruin Fatah's credibility more surely than to be dependent on Israel and the US. Therefore maybe Israel has chosen this way of de-fanging it. Then, with Fatah discredited, only Hamas will remain, which Israel can present convincingly as immovably committed to the destruction of Israel. World opinion would perhaps then be more sympathetic to a conclusive operation against Hamas.
Mind you, I don't know if Olmert and Lipni are capable of being sufficiently Machiavellian to come up with that strategy. I hope they are.
Posted by: Rob | May 27, 2007 at 01:20