Abbas Heads to Gaza to Confront Militants

This from the AP: "GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will meet Saturday with militant leaders to push them to honor a days-old cease-fire marred by mortar and rocket attacks on Israeli targets, according to an aide.

The Islamic militant group Hamas said it would only stop attacks when it was satisfied Israel would release prisoners and stop pursuing militants.

Abbas' planned meetings with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad faction were the latest sign of his commitment to keeping intact the cease-fire he and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared Tuesday to end 4 1/2 years of bloodletting.

On Thursday, he fired top security commanders after Hamas bombarded Jewish settlements in Gaza with mortars and rockets. And the central committee of his Fatah movement announced a state of emergency in the Palestinian security forces in an effort to prevent new attacks."

Absolute peace is next to impossible between Palestine and Israel. All of the snarky bloggers whom have reacted to the news out of the Middle East regarding HAMAS' reaction to the peace talks between Abbas and Sharon by being sarcastic and pessimistic have as usual missed the bigger picture. God only knows if the majority of Jews and Arabs in the Middle East will ever "get along" and frankly my dear Scarlett, it doesn't matter if they do. What does matter and is evidenced by the above article is that when the terrorist groups like HAMAS attack, the PLO will be there to intercede and appropriately deal with them. In other words, Abbas has to do what Arafat was unwilling to do; oppose the local terrorist. Abbas has to emulate Presdient Eisenhower whom sent troops into Little Rock, Arkansas, to assure compliance with the orders of a Federal court demanding desegregation. If Abbas confronts the terrorists and lives to tell about it, that's the best proximity to peace we can hope for. If you're waiting for the Arabs and the Jews to get together and sing, "We're All in the Same Gang" you are either hopelessly utopian or a student of Ward Churchill (cue rim shot).

Prime Minister Sharon certainly has to keep up his end of the bargain as well. Sharon has to stand strong against the hardliners in his own government that have decided that the Palestinians can't be reasoned with.

This struggle will be long, ugly and bloody, there's no doubt about that. The fate of the Middle East lies squarely with Abbas and Sharon and their ability to stay alive in a sea of radicals where life is cheaper than penny candy.