 Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas failed at talks with militants on Wednesday to win a commitment to end attacks on Israelis in the run-up to Jan. 9 elections for a replacement to Yasser Arafat, political sources said. Abbas is likely to be Fatah's main candidate to succeed Arafat as president on a platform of more dead infidels renewed talks. Palestinian political sources said Abbas obtained a pledge at the talks with leaders of Fatah armed groups as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad to work to restore internal order but not to suspend attacks on Israelis. | "We live to die by killing Jooos!" |
Faction sources said Hamas and Islamic Jihad also told Abbas they would probably not field candidates for president, sticking to a policy of boycotting Palestinian self-rule institutions that might deal with Israel, which both groups want to destroy. | I'm just gabberflasted at the matter-of-fact reporting of the aims of Hamas and IJ. I know I shouldn't be, but I am. |
Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to visit Israel and the West Bank on Monday, lending weight to President Bush's vow to help create a Palestinian state in Israel-occupied areas during his second four-year term. But veteran Palestinian moderates in Arafat's old guard are hampered by a lack of popular credibility at home. | Veteran Pali moderates in Arafat's old guard? Who are they trying to kid? |
They face a big challenge from a younger militant generation angered not only by high-level corruption but the failure to attain Palestinian demands via past dialogue, particularly a halt to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. Many Palestinians smolder over what they see as an Israeli bid to impose a solution with a unilateral plan to withdraw from tiny Gaza next year but keep much of the West Bank. | Too bad, terrorists. Somebody has to be the grownup here, and that's Israel. |
Sharon has said he would consider renewing contacts toward peace only if new Palestinian leaders clamp down on militants. |