Getting Worse

Business as Usual in the Palestinian Authority

By Daniel Pipes

May 17, 2005 [Excerpts]

Yasir Arafat’s demise in November excited great hopes among those who saw his malign personality as the main reason for Palestinian intransigence.

But those of us who saw the problem as larger than Arafat -- as resulting, rather, from the deep radicalization of the Palestinian body politic -- expected little change. Indeed, I wrote at the time of Mahmoud Abbas’ election to head the Palestinian Authority (PA) that, "he is potentially a far more formidable enemy to Israel" than was Arafat.

How do things look a half year after Arafat's death? About as awful as anyone might have expected. Specifically, Abbas is unambiguously leading the Palestinians to war after the Israeli retreat from Gaza in August 2005. Consider some recent developments.

Hiring terrorists as soldiers: Rather than arrest terrorists, as required by the informal February 2005 cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians, Abbas has instituted a unique employment program for them, incorporating them into his security forces. . . . Arming terrorists: The Palestinian military intelligence agency facilitates terrorist groups smuggling SA-7 Strela shoulder-fired missiles into Gaza to use against Israeli aircraft.

Inciting the population: As Palestinian Media Watch, the Center for Special Studies, and Michael Widlanski have exhaustively detailed, the political speeches, media content, mosque sermons, school textbooks, and wall posters remain as rabidly anti-Israel and anti-Semitic as during the worst days of Arafat's rule. . . . .

Pretend arrests of terrorists: As under Arafat, the PA plays the charade of arresting terrorists with fanfare and then allowing them quietly to “escape” from prison. . . .

The planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in August is likely to precipitate new rounds of violence. One could come in July, as the Israel Defense Forces engages in a massive sweep of Gaza to ensure that the forthcoming retreat takes place not under Palestinian fire.

More violence will likely follow in September, as the Palestinians, Gaza now under their belt, begin a new assault on Israel. That round presumably will feature the substantial rocket arsenal that Hamas has been amassing. Israel ’s chief of staff, Moshe Ya'alon is on record predicting, "Immediately after the disengagement we can expect a burst of terrorism." (http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=18085)