|
|
| By Stan Goodenough June 18, 2007 |
|
| |
 Bookmark to del.icio.us |
| |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who apparently feels compelled -- against the glaring contrary evidence -- to proceed with the land-for-peace process, said Sunday last week's Iranian-backed Islamic terrorist takeover of the Gaza Strip was, in fact, a good thing.
"Now we have a chance for peace," the prime minister told reporters on his flight to Washington DC for a scheduled meeting this week with US President George W. Bush.
The new reality in Gaza has provided an "opportunity that we have not had in a long time ... we intend to take advantage of this situation."
Olmert insisted that the new, Hamas-free Palestinian Authority that would be established Sunday was "a partner" with which Israel could make peace.
What the prime minister intends to do now, in accordance with the wishes already expressed by Washington, is move to quickly shore up the position of PA chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, entrenching him in an unassailable position of authority in Samaria and Judea.
Financial and humanitarian aid as well as more weapons with which to "police the peace" will be laid on for Fatah, and the IDF will move to squash any attempt by Hamas to go against Abbas or his men.
The medium-term regional goal -- which is also supported by Likud Party leader Binyamin Netanyahu -- is to muster the forces and influences in the "moderate" Arab world (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) into rallying behind Abbas, thereby isolating and starving Hamas of political support until it withers on the vine.
Analysts say, however, that any deal made with Abbas and Co. will only be made with Abbas and Co.; while Hamas continues to win the hearts of the Palestinians on the street through shows of strength like its coup d'etat last week.
Whatever Israel may invest in creating a Fatah-led mini-state in Judea-Samaria could be as easily swept away by Hamas as it was in Gaza leaving Islamist terror states wrapped around the southern and eastern sides of what will be left of Israel. |
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
