Bad: PA leader Mahmoud Abbas isn’t willing to dismantle the terror organizations as he is obliged to, but rather insists on a temporary “ceasefire.”
Worse: He can’t even secure a ceasefire.
Palestinian factions convened in Cairo have agreed to maintain a period of “calm,” but the parties failed to reach a long-term truce agreement, as hoped, Palestinian sources reported Thursday.According to the deal, the calm would be maintained on condition Israel fulfills its commitments to the Palestinians, the sources said following three days of negotiations.Egypt and the Palestinian Authority had hoped the factions would agree on a long-term cease-fire, or at least a one-year truce.The factions, however, demanded the period of calm be limited to a few weeks or months.—-Hamas officials emphasized the new agreement does not mean the Palestinians have renounced their right to use armed resistance as a means to fight the occupation, “especially if the IDF will break the calm.”
Downright depressing: Israel still handed over Jericho, with plans to hand over even more territory soon.
A road of obstacles paved the way leading up to the handover of Jericho to Palestinian security control on Wednesday. Without fanfare or ceremony, Jericho became the first Palestinian city to enjoy its new status in accordance with understandings reached between Israel and the Palestinians. If all goes according to plan, Tulkarm will be handed over to the Palestinian Authority next week with Kalkilya following closely behind.
Update: Now Ynet are reporting that a “ceasefire” was reached, but not a “truce.” It is all semantics really. What it boils down to is that the terrorists retain the right to attack us, while we continue trying to placate them.
