ARE YOU SERIOUS?

If we disregard the spin doctors, and overlook the mendacious statements of the parties, it is clear that Abu Mazen's negotiations with the 13 terrorist factions have failed. This, of course, is no great surprise, as they were never intended to succeed. Simple window dressing to continue the pretence.

The obligation of the PA is to disarm the terrorist organizations. That is what they committed to in the Oslo Accords, and again in the Road Map. That is the first step, the sine qua non, without which nothing can happen. But Abu Mazen has said often and publicly, both during the election campaign and afterwards, that he has no intention of moving against the terrorists. And so the only purpose served by the meeting between the 13 factions and the terrorist-in-chief was to create window dressing.

Israel Radio carried the following statement by Abu Mazen: "The Palestinian agreement is important and serious and it will ... give the peace process a chance to move forward."

Clearly the agreement is "important". But only to the PA, as it permits the PA to continue the fiction that it will fight terror and the terrorists. But the reality is that there is not even a hudna, there is just some ephemeral concept of calm, capable of being broken, without notice, at any time. I guess it is like a time-out in sports: an opportunity to catch your breath, get new instructions from the coach, then take up the battle once again.

I was troubled by the use of the word "serious". But on reflection I think he inserted it in the comment in order to forestall the outcries that would start with: ARE YOU SERIOUS? Because that is the only sensible question to be asked when the terms of the agreement are grasped. The calm is not only ephemeral, but is subject to such nonsensical conditions as the release of all prisoners. ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Abu Mazen goes on to talk about a "peace process". What peace process? There never was, and there never will be, a peace process until the thirteen bands of killers are fully disarmed and shunned by all those who truly seek peace. That does not mean coopting the killers to the PA security forces. There is no point in relieving them of their present ordinance, just to issue them new, or even the same, ordinance, and calling them members of the security forces. All the more so when we recall that the lynch mob that brutally killed two Israeli reservists was to a large extent composed of members of the PA security forces.

I also find it interesting that Abu Mazen has two names. This nome de guerre, and the name given him at birth, Mahmoud Abbas. Under the latter name, as the elected President of the PA he speaks out of one side of his mouth, mouthing platitudes designed to hide his true intentions. Under the former name he mouths the true venom of his position, the incitement that will inevitably lead to more death and devastation.

Peace process indeed. If he really wants to set off on such a process he must take the first step to which he has obligated himself. Disarm the terrorists, stop them in their tracks. Peace will follow as day does night.

That is, if he is serious.