Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Ala is threatening to resign, as chaos escalates in Gaza, and Palestinians chafe at the incompetence, venality, and brutality of Arafat. In discussing the threat by Abu Ala to resign, LA Times reporter Laura King tries to blame the chaos on Israeli's destructive actions towards the Palestinian Authority. Not unusual, many papers have done that over the last few days (months). But here, the reporter blames  the Israelis for refusing to meet with Abu Ala to strengthen him.
 
But perhaps as a result, he has not yet had a face—to—face meeting with Sharon — even though attacks by Palestinian militants inside Israel have dropped off sharply in recent months. Israeli leaders often make a period of relative calm a precondition for meeting with their Palestinian counterparts.
 
The Palestinains are not the ones trying to stop the attacks; the drop off is due to ISRAELI actions —— especially the notorious fence. The Palestinians have not suddenly become more amenable to peace, King's intimation that the Palestinians are finally giving the Israeli's what they have demanded is ridiculous. For shame.

Posted by Ed  07 18 04