They've really gone too far this time. When Abbas meets with Bush later this week, Bush will probably insist that he take only the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. "Israel Suspends Contacts With Palestinians," from AP, with thanks to Alyssa A. Lappen:
GUSH ETZION, West Bank - Israel suspended negotiations with the Palestinian Authority on issues such as prisoner releases and slapped tough travel restrictions on the West Bank after Palestinian gunmen killed three Israelis and wounded five in drive-by attacks near Jewish settlements.Sunday's Palestinian attack near the Gush Etzion block of settlements was the deadliest since July. It followed Israeli intelligence warnings that Palestinian militants, who claim they drove Israel out of Gaza by force, would now shift their focus to the West Bank. Israel pulled out of Gaza in September in a unilateral move.
The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a militant group with ties to the ruling Fatah party, claimed responsibility. However, security officials said they believed the Islamic militant group Hamas might have been involved.
The attacks renewed international pressure on Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to crack down on militants. Abbas, who is to meet later this week with President Bush in Washington, has been reluctant to take harsh measures against the militants.
Now why might that be?
UPDATE: More on this from David Bedein: "Official Palestinian Authority Media: Abbas's Own Fatah Killed 'Settlers'"
The names of the dead:
*Oz Ben-Meir, a 9th-grade student in the Yeshiva High School.
*Matat Adler, 21, who was married just 3 months ago, and her cousin...
*Kineret Mandel, 23, who was the first girl born in Carmel after her parents had been evicted from the Sinai in the peace concession with Egypt.
Forcing an intimidated Ariel Sharon to expel the Jews from the West Bank via terrorism is the strategy Mr. Abbas and his ruling Fatah Party have chosen - just as they did with the help of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
Unfortunately, there is no stopping the Sharon capitulation machine from bowing to further Palestinian demands in the wake of his Likud Central Committee referendum victory that guaranteed his coalition with the anti-Zionist Labor/Meretz Parties will continue until next April's general elections.
Madzionist
Yes, if these young people were "palestinian" the media would be screaming. But since they were Israeli it is just another day.
Thank goodness for the Gaza withdrawal. It has completely changed the dynamic. Before, the world would remain silent and indifferent as Jews in Israel were slaughtered one by one or in groups large and small.
But now, after the world has seen yet another example of Israeli willingness to compromise and placate and appease, now the world will be in an uproar over "Palestinian" murder of unarmed Israeli civilians. Now the world will readily approve of Israel's strong response against terrorism. They may even assist Israel in their fight against terrorism.
Yes, now that Israel has rewarded the jihadists with another irreversible land grant to start their new "nation", the world will finally focus their attention on getting the "Palestinians" to take any step, any step at all, towards controlling violence.
I'm sure the U.N., E.U., U.S., main stream media, and other world leaders will soon condemn this act of terrorism. Yes, very soon. I'm sure they'll get around to it. Any day now. Thank goodness for the Gaza withdrawal.
*Oz Ben-Meir, a 9th-grade student in the Yeshiva High School.
*Matat Adler, 21, who was married just 3 months ago, and her cousin...
*Kineret Mandel, 23, who was the first girl born in Carmel after her parents had been evicted from the Sinai in the peace concession with Egypt.
Let the retaliation be swift and merciless!
May hellfire consume the enemies of Israel here and now!