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By Ari Applbaum
July 13, 2005
Kudos to Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestinian Authority! The sensible and sensitive leader had the courtesy to condemn yesterday's terror attack that killed three civilians, whose only crime was going shopping in the costal city of Netanya on a beautiful summer day.
"We consider this a terrorist action, a crime against the Palestinian people," Abbas told reporters immediately after the attack. "No sensible person could do such a thing on the eve of the (Israeli) pullout from Gaza and northern West Bank," he added.
A crime against the Palestinian people?
What about the three Israeli civilians who were murdered and the dozens of Israelis wounded by ricochets, as well as bolts, nails and pieces of glass inserted into the explosive device to increase the number of casualties and maximize the amount of pain and anguish purposely inflicted on innocent men, women and children?
To add injury to insult, his oh-so-sympathetic words have still not been accompanied by a willingness to act to prevent further attacks.
The post 9/11 world's leaders are divided in two distinct groups -- those who are willing to condemn terror (and consequently act on it) and those who are not. Needless to say, Abbas does not fall into the former.
Maybe he could try some other words on for size, like "terror is wrong"? Period.
Maybe it is time for us to realize that Abbas is telling us the truth to our faces. Mayb e we should start listening to his choice of words and act accordingly. At the very least, Israel should not be expected to negotiate with a leader who lacks the moral integrity to speak out against the murder of innocent civilians, no matter what side of what lines they occupy.
Having a Palestinian leader who speaks up, loud and clear, against terrorism is in the best interest of Palestinians, Israelis, and ultimately the world. In the meantime, please listen to what the man has to say before showering him with applause.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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