Pat Dollard | Young Americans

They say activity is increasing in the West Bank.

From DEBKAfile:
DEBKAfile’s military sources report the bomber was Mustapha Mohammed Abu Srur, 21, of the Fatah al Aqsa Brigades. He was already driving in his accomplice’s car on their way to pick up his explosive bomb belt and continue to target, when they were surrounded by undercover Israeli troops. The bomber who was armed was shot dead and his partner captured and questioned.

At the Israeli cabinet session Sunday, Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin reported that seven Palestinian suicide missions inside Israel had been foiled in the past month. Eleven wanted terrorists were rounded up Wednesday night.

DEBKAfile’s defense sources say this is a worrying escalation. It signals the across-the-board determination of all the Palestinians groups, including Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah and his rival Hamas, Jihad Islami and the “Fronts,” to revive mass killings in Israel’s cities by West Bank suiciders. The approaching international conference in Annapolis has pushed the Palestinian terrorists into greater efforts to execute mass-casualty strikes in Israel to demonstrate “the armed conflict” continues undeterred by any peace talks.

Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas has responded by hardening the line he takes with him to the conference. As presented Wednesday, the new line is all or nothing: If the Palestinians cannot have every inch of the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem for their state, the “armed conflict” will continue.

This pattern is a replay of Yasser Arafat’s tactics in the years 2000-2004 – talking “peace” while ordering his terrorist bombers to redouble their suicide offensive to squeeze Israel. Abbas does not need to issue orders. Hamas and Jihad Islami are more than willing to derail the international conference in Maryland and step up their violence. However, no branch of the Palestinian government in Ramallah is lifting a preventative finger.

DEBKAfile’s Jerusalem sources report that Israel’s security and army chiefs have warned prime minister Ehud Olmert that a dangerous situation is boiling up and called for his urgent attention. He responded that now was not the time and he would get back to the problem in a few days.

They also gave him due notice of the hardening of Abbas’ approach to negotiations with Israel. It was indicated by the appointment of Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala), prime minister under Arafat and an old hand in beating Israel down by bazaar tactics, to lead the Palestinian negotiating team. Olmert was advised to ginger up the Israeli team which, aside from Maj. Gen (ret) Amos Gilead, consists of officials and lawyers who have no experience in the wiles of hard bargaining with Palestinians.

Whereas Abbas has assembled a top team for the conference, the Israeli side appears unready and short of firm positions, well-chosen arguments and effective rhetoric. Israel will find itself standing practically alone, with the scales weighted against its team by participants who are predominantly hostile and sympathetic to radical Palestinian positions. Palestinian propagandists are already pressing their international advantage with aggressive campaigns to prepare the ground for the hard crunch at Annapolis.

DEBKAfile