[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:
OK. Let's count to ten and think this through:
1. The idea is that the wanted terrorists use their weapons and terror teams
to fight opponents of Mahmoud Abbas instead of murder Israelis.
2. Under this arrangement, the wanted terrorists can openly prepare for
operations to ostensibly kill Palestinians.
3. If their teams are identified murdering Israelis the wanted terrorist
could simply distance himself from the identified team member.
4. As an added "bonus", since it is the position of "moderate" Abbas that
"collaborators" should be killed, the wanted terrorists will apparently be
allowed to murder Palestinians who provide Israel with information
indicating that the wanted terrorists continue to engage in activity against
Israel.
So under this plan, the wanted terrorists can openly recruit, arm, plan and
do everything but get caught red handed actually directly executing an
attack against Israel. And they can kill any Palestinian who interferes
with their operation.
Under the plan Israel essentially forfeits the ability to stop the most
dangerous terrorists in the West Bank.
Question: What message do the Israelis who embrace this proposal send:
sheer stupidity or desperation or both?
--------------------
#1 Livnat: Pardoning gunmen jeopardizes security
Right-wing MKs attack reported agreement to pardon hundreds of Fatah wanted
men, fear they will continue to engage in terrorism
Amnon Meranda YNET Published: 07.14.07, 19:19 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3425296,00.html
A Palestinian security official told Ynet on Friday that Israel will stop
chasing dozens of wanted Fatah gunmen in the West Bank under an agreement
aimed at bolstering Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Palestinian official tells Ynet Israel agrees to let up on 178 Fatah gunmen
wanted for terror activities in the frame of an agreement aimed at
bolstering President Mahmoud Abbas after his faction's defeat by Hamas in
Gaza
Right-wing MKs were infuriated by the Palestinian reports. "The government
must immediately halt this dangerous plan that jeopardizes Israel's
citizens' safety," said MK Limor Livnat (Likud) Saturday evening in response
to the deal.
"It is astonishing to see how the Olmert government buckles under the
terrorist organizations time and time again," she added. "It is not
surprising that (Defense Minister) Ehud Barak, who fled Lebanon, is now
pardoning Zakariya Zubeidi."
MK Yisrael Katz (Likud) warned: "Regretfully, instead of eradicating
terrorism, the government is not only releasing terrorists from jail, but is
adding insult to injury by giving immunity to murderers such as Zakariya
Zubeidi and his friends. Olmert and his cronies have not learned yet that
giving in to terrorism, not only does not stop it, but increases it.
"I have no doubt," he added, "that those who will receive the immunity will
spend the time they save by not having to dodge IDF forces for terrorist
preparations. Now, they will engage in terrorism with no-one bothering
them."
However, MKs from the left applauded the decision: "Abu Mazen (Mahmoud
Abbas) must be given the possibility to lead moves for change that will end
in disarming the militias and replacing the central rule," MK Avshalom Vilan
(Meretz) explained his position. "If our contribution to the process is
pardoning these wanted men, it is worth it, and I approve the step."
MK Ahmad Tibi from the United Arab List objected to the terminology used:
"This is not a pardon, but a Palestinian effort to stop the targeted
killings. It should not be presented as a gesture. It should be backed up by
releasing prisoners from all of the factions."
The Labor is also endorsing the deal. MK Danny Yatom said: "I side with an
agreement that all the wanted gunmen will put down their arms and commit
themselves to not act against Israel in any terrorist activity, will not
carry arms and will accept the Palestinian security services' authority.
"It goes without saying that if any of them continue to engage in terrorism
we will renew the hunt," he added.
Israel is still analyzing deal
Despite the Palestinian's optimistic reports of lists of hundreds of
prisoners who have already been approved, the issue is still under
examination by the government and has yet to be approved.
The topic was raised several times at meetings between Israeli taskforces
and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' men since Abbas and Prime
Minister started to meet regularly.
At the Sharm el-Sheik summit about three weeks ago, Jerusalem agreed to look
into absolving Fatah members on Israel's 'most wanted' list.
Abbas' goal is to recruit these men to strengthen his regime. This regime
would support the understandings with the international community:
renouncing terrorism, recognizing Israel and accepting agreements signed
between the PLO and the Israeli government after the Oslo Accord was signed.
Israel has not yet given its final approval to the agreement. The main
concern is that part of these wanted men are responsible for terrorist
attacks against IDF forces, settlers in the West Bank and also civilians
within the Green Line.
The step would leave them immune while by law, they should be put on trial
and sentenced to prison. Moreover, there is no guarantee that these men will
not encourage terrorist activities after being exonerated.
Ronny Sofer contributed to the report
#2 Israel to 'pardon' Fatah gunmen
Palestinian official tells Ynet Israel agrees to let up on 178 Fatah gunmen
wanted for terror activities in the frame of an agreement aimed at
bolstering President Mahmoud Abbas after his faction's defeat by Hamas in
Gaza
Ali Waked YNET Published: 07.14.07, 08:42 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3425204,00.html
Israel will stop chasing dozens of wanted Fatah gunmen in the West Bank in
the frame of an agreement aimed at bolstering Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas, a Palestinian security official told Ynet on Friday.
"Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed on an amnesty for dozens
of wanted activists affiliated with the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah's
military wing in the West Bank," the official said.
The official added that 178 wanted Fatah gunmen, including Zakariya Zubeidi
and Kamal Ranam, the al-Aqsa leaders in Ramallah and Nablus, were including
in a list finalized between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.
The Palestinian Authority is pushing Israel to let up on another 206 wanted
Fatah men in an effort to bolster Fatah in the West Bank after its defeat on
the hands of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian officials said Israel rejected the 206-name list over 28 men the
Jewish State believed had blood on their hands.
Israeli and Palestinian security officials will meet on Monday to discuss
the list, the official said.
Palestinian negotiators pledged that pardoned Fatah gunmen would not engage
in terror activities and would be disarmed after Israel threatened to hunt
those who engage in plotting terror attacks.
Israel also said it would continue its crackdown on the Islamic Jihad, Hamas
and the Popular Resistance Committees.
#3 Israel agrees to pardon 178 "wanted" Fatah gunmen;
negotiations continue over further 28
Date: 14 / 07 / 2007 Time: 10:22
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=23921
Bethlehem - Ma'an - Palestinian security sources close to the
Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades have confirmed to Ma'an that a list has
been drawn up, comprising 178 names of "wanted" Palestinians, which Israel
intends to pardon.
It is understood that all those to receive pardons, in any potential deal
between the PA and Israel, will be from President Abbas' Fatah movement. The
sources confirmed that two of the names on the list are Zakaria Az Zubeidi,
an Al Aqsa Brigades leader from Jenin, and Kamal Ghanam, a prominent leader
in the brigades in Nablus. Several other prominent leaders are said to be
included on the list.
Analysts in the Israeli media are claiming that this deal aims to bolster
President Abbas' standing within the West Bank - particularly given that
those due to be pardoned are reported to be from across the West Bank - yet
Palestinian sources suggest that the move will further isolate the Hamas
movement, further raising tensions among the Islamic movement toward
President Abbas' emergency government, due to be reappointed after the
expiry of the 30-day "state of emergency" on Saturday at midnight.
Palestinian and Israeli officials are due to meet on Monday to discuss the
list, allegedly containing a further 28 Fatah leaders which Israeli
authorities are reportedly "not keen" to pardon.
Six years after being declared "wanted" by the Israeli military, Amjad
Khillawi from Deheisheh refugee camp has reappeared in the camp, following
Israel's announcement of the pardon.
The 38 year-old man has not had a hair cut in the last six years of hiding.
Children of the camp attempt to salute and shake hands with him as he
passes, but he says with regret, "I don't know them, most of them were born
after the start of the Intifada."
Khillawi has two sisters in Israeli jails, and a brother injured by Israeli
soldiers.
We asked him about the list of pardoned militants recently announced by the
Israeli authorities, and his intentions for the future. With sadness in his
voice, he expressed his regret that the list does not include all the
"wanted" and the prisoners.
He told Ma'an that the Palestinian security service contacted him, and urged
him to register with one of the security centers, in compliance with the
deal struck between Israeli authorities and the PA. He told us that he is
complying with the deal "and the political leadership represented in
President Abbas."
Ma'an's exclusive interview with Khallawi will soon be televised.
| 
