Same Old, Same Old

King Solomon, (the fellow who built the First Temple, which the Palestinians insist never existed) taught us "there is nothing new under the sun". Clearly he was exceedingly prophetic. Even though Palestinians were unknown at that time, and would not exist until the name was created for Arab political purposes in the second half of the 20th Century, the King was able to divine that nothing new would arise in dealing with them.

In the 'new' Abbas regime the Mosques are still providing the same old rhetoric of anti-Jewish, anti-Semitic, anti-Israel vitriol. And today I read that the Palestinians are outraged at the Israeli intention to release only 900 Palestinian prisoners: 500 immediately, and 400 after three months. They deem this foolish, but magnanimous gesture an insult. Same old, same old.

They want them all, all 7,600 prisoners in Israeli custody, including the over 700 who predate the Oslo Accords. Bombers, snipers, killers of women and children, they want them all. We should not be surprised. They want all of Israel as well, and this is just part of the means by which they hope to achieve their goal.

This is part of what is referred to as 'confidence building measures'. Now what exactly does that mean? Whose confidence? And why?

Such a massive influx of terrorists and killers to the talent pool of Palestinian terrorism is clearly not designed to build Israeli confidence. So that leaves the Palestinians. Precisely what confidence of theirs has to be built up, and how will this achieve it?

The answer is quite simple. We must build their confidence in their ability to continue to terrorize Israel. Thus they can call a hudna, and lay low as they replenish their arms, tactics and strategy. When they deem the moment propitious, as Mohammed did to the Qureish, they will trigger an excuse and revert to their terrorist cabal.

Surely it makes much more sense for the Palestinians to offer concessions by way of 'confidence building measures'. They might start by turning over the killers and terrorists that they continue to harbour so they could face prosecution. That might be followed up by disarming the terrorist bands such as Hamas and Al Aqsa Brigades. I understand they do not want a civil war. However, it is the responsibility of government to maintain order. Talk of taking these killers into the Palestinian Security Services, is simply to beg the question.

This is just a new gloss on the Arafat revolving-door policy. The old master terrorist used to arrest them at the front door and immediately release them by the one at the rear. It would appear that Abbas's plan is to take their illegal arms in a photo op at the front door, then induct them into the Security Services. Immediately they will be issued a legal weapon, a fancy new uniform, and now they can parade in the open. But it is still the same killer.

It is not a question of avoiding civil war but rather a question of being able to maintain law and order. If Abbas can't to that, why are we even talking to him?