The Palestinian Excuse is Dead. Long Live the Palestinian Excuse.

[L@mplighterM]

PART II

Phase I: Ending Terror And Violence, Normalizing Palestinian Life, and Building Palestinian Institutions -- Present to May 2003
In Phase I, the Palestinians immediately undertake an unconditional cessation of violence according to the steps outlined below; such action should be accompanied by supportive measures undertaken by Israel. Palestinians and Israelis resume security cooperation based on the Tenet work plan to end violence, terrorism, and incitement through restructured and effective Palestinian security services. Palestinians undertake comprehensive political reform in preparation for statehood, including drafting a Palestinian constitution, and free, fair and open elections upon the basis of those measures. Israel takes all necessary steps to help normalize Palestinian life. Israel withdraws from Palestinian areas occupied from September 28, 2000 and the two sides restore the status quo that existed at that time, as security performance and cooperation progress. Israel also freezes all settlement activity, consistent with the Mitchell report.

At the outset of Phase I:

Palestinian leadership issues unequivocal statement reiterating Israel’s right to exist in peace and security and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere. All official Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel.
Israeli leadership issues unequivocal statement affirming its commitment to the two-state vision of an independent, viable, sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel, as expressed by President Bush, and calling for an immediate end to violence against Palestinians everywhere. All official Israeli institutions end incitement against Palestinians.
Security

Palestinians declare an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism and undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks on Israelis anywhere.
Rebuilt and refocused Palestinian Authority security apparatus begins sustained, targeted, and effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. This includes commencing confiscation of illegal weapons and consolidation of security authority, free of association with terror and corruption.
GOI takes no actions undermining trust, including deportations, attacks on civilians; confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian homes and property, as a punitive measure or to facilitate Israeli construction; destruction of Palestinian institutions and infrastructure; and other measures specified in the Tenet work plan.
Relying on existing mechanisms and on-the-ground resources, Quartet representatives begin informal monitoring and consult with the parties on establishment of a formal monitoring mechanism and its implementation.
Implementation, as previously agreed, of U.S. rebuilding, training and resumed security cooperation plan in collaboration with outside oversight board (U.S.–Egypt–Jordan). Quartet support for efforts to achieve a lasting, comprehensive cease-fire.
All Palestinian security organizations are consolidated into three services reporting to an empowered Interior Minister.
Restructured/retrained Palestinian security forces and IDF counterparts progressively resume security cooperation and other undertakings in implementation of the Tenet work plan, including regular senior-level meetings, with the participation of U.S. security officials.
Arab states cut off public and private funding and all other forms of support for groups supporting and engaging in violence and terror.
All donors providing budgetary support for the Palestinians channel these funds through the Palestinian Ministry of Finance's Single Treasury Account.
As comprehensive security performance moves forward, IDF withdraws progressively from areas occupied since September 28, 2000 and the two sides restore the status quo that existed prior to September 28, 2000. Palestinian security forces redeploy to areas vacated by IDF.
Palestinian Institution-Building

Immediate action on credible process to produce draft constitution for Palestinian statehood. As rapidly as possible, constitutional committee circulates draft Palestinian constitution, based on strong parliamentary democracy and cabinet with empowered prime minister, for public comment/debate. Constitutional committee proposes draft document for submission after elections for approval by appropriate Palestinian institutions.
Appointment of interim prime minister or cabinet with empowered executive authority/decision-making body.
GOI fully facilitates travel of Palestinian officials for PLC and Cabinet sessions, internationally supervised security retraining, electoral and other reform activity, and other supportive measures related to the reform efforts.
Continued appointment of Palestinian ministers empowered to undertake fundamental reform. Completion of further steps to achieve genuine separation of powers, including any necessary Palestinian legal reforms for this purpose.
Establishment of independent Palestinian election commission. PLC reviews and revises election law.
Palestinian performance on judicial, administrative, and economic benchmarks, as established by the International Task Force on Palestinian Reform.
As early as possible, and based upon the above measures and in the context of open debate and transparent candidate selection/electoral campaign based on a free, multi-party process, Palestinians hold free, open, and fair elections.
GOI facilitates Task Force election assistance, registration of voters, movement of candidates and voting officials. Support for NGOs involved in the election process.
GOI reopens Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and other closed Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem based on a commitment that these institutions operate strictly in accordance with prior agreements between the parties.
Humanitarian Response

Israel takes measures to improve the humanitarian situation. Israel and Palestinians implement in full all recommendations of the Bertini report to improve humanitarian conditions, lifting curfews and easing restrictions on movement of persons and goods, and allowing full, safe, and unfettered access of international and humanitarian personnel.
AHLC reviews the humanitarian situation and prospects for economic development in the West Bank and Gaza and launches a major donor assistance effort, including to the reform effort.
GOI and PA continue revenue clearance process and transfer of funds, including arrears, in accordance with agreed, transparent monitoring mechanism.
Civil Society

Continued donor support, including increased funding through PVOs/NGOs, for people to people programs, private sector development and civil society initiatives.
Settlements

GOI immediately dismantles settlement outposts erected since March 2001.
Consistent with the Mitchell Report, GOI freezes all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements).

[L@mplighterM]

PART III


Phase II: Transition -- June 2003-December 2003
In the second phase, efforts are focused on the option of creating an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of sovereignty, based on the new constitution, as a way station to a permanent status settlement. As has been noted, this goal can be achieved when the Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror, willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty. With such a leadership, reformed civil institutions and security structures, the Palestinians will have the active support of the Quartet and the broader international community in establishing an independent, viable, state.

Progress into Phase II will be based upon the consensus judgment of the Quartet of whether conditions are appropriate to proceed, taking into account performance of both parties. Furthering and sustaining efforts to normalize Palestinian lives and build Palestinian institutions, Phase II starts after Palestinian elections and ends with possible creation of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders in 2003. Its primary goals are continued comprehensive security performance and effective security cooperation, continued normalization of Palestinian life and institution-building, further building on and sustaining of the goals outlined in Phase I, ratification of a democratic Palestinian constitution, formal establishment of office of prime minister, consolidation of political reform, and the creation of a Palestinian state with provisional borders.

International Conference: Convened by the Quartet, in consultation with the parties, immediately after the successful conclusion of Palestinian elections, to support Palestinian economic recovery and launch a process, leading to establishment of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders.
Such a meeting would be inclusive, based on the goal of a comprehensive Middle East peace (including between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon), and based on the principles described in the preamble to this document.
Arab states restore pre-intifada links to Israel (trade offices, etc.).
Revival of multilateral engagement on issues including regional water resources, environment, economic development, refugees, and arms control issues.
New constitution for democratic, independent Palestinian state is finalized and approved by appropriate Palestinian institutions. Further elections, if required, should follow approval of the new constitution.
Empowered reform cabinet with office of prime minister formally established, consistent with draft constitution.
Continued comprehensive security performance, including effective security cooperation on the bases laid out in Phase I.
Creation of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders through a process of Israeli-Palestinian engagement, launched by the international conference. As part of this process, implementation of prior agreements, to enhance maximum territorial contiguity, including further action on settlements in conjunction with establishment of a Palestinian state with provisional borders.
Enhanced international role in monitoring transition, with the active, sustained, and operational support of the Quartet.
Quartet members promote international recognition of Palestinian state, including possible UN membership.

[L@mplighterM]

PART IV

Phase III: Permanent Status Agreement and End of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict -- 2004 – 2005
Progress into Phase III, based on consensus judgment of Quartet, and taking into account actions of both parties and Quartet monitoring. Phase III objectives are consolidation of reform and stabilization of Palestinian institutions, sustained, effective Palestinian security performance, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a permanent status agreement in 2005.

Second International Conference: Convened by Quartet, in consultation with the parties, at beginning of 2004 to endorse agreement reached on an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and formally to launch a process with the active, sustained, and operational support of the Quartet, leading to a final, permanent status resolution in 2005, including on borders, Jerusalem, refugees, settlements; and, to support progress toward a comprehensive Middle East settlement between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and Syria, to be achieved as soon as possible.
Continued comprehensive, effective progress on the reform agenda laid out by the Task Force in preparation for final status agreement.
Continued sustained and effective security performance, and sustained, effective security cooperation on the bases laid out in Phase I.
International efforts to facilitate reform and stabilize Palestinian institutions and the Palestinian economy, in preparation for final status agreement.
Parties reach final and comprehensive permanent status agreement that ends the Israel-Palestinian conflict in 2005, through a settlement negotiated between the parties based on UNSCR 242, 338, and 1397, that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and includes an agreed, just, fair, and realistic solution to the refugee issue, and a negotiated resolution on the status of Jerusalem that takes into account the political and religious concerns of both sides, and protects the religious interests of Jews, Christians, and Muslims worldwide, and fulfills the vision of two states, Israel and sovereign, independent, democratic and viable Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security.
Arab state acceptance of full normal relations with Israel and security for all the states of the region in the context of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace.

[NewsGuy]

Originally posted by ibrodsky
I'm not convinced Ariel Sharon is releasing terrorists. My understanding is that only about 7% of Palestinian prisoners are being considered for release, and these are largely boys under 16 years old, men over 60, and women.

You're right about the percentage, but the criteria set by the GSS only bars releasing Palestinians with "Blood on their hands." This opens the door to release Palestinians who carried out violent acts against Israelis. In fact, just yesterday Sharon was quoted in the Israeli press as saying "We will be forced to release terrorists." Keep in mind that the release of Palestinian prisoners is to take place in stages.

Not only is it bad enough to think that Israel will release this batch of violent and dangerous Arabs, but I'd be willing to bet that, just like after Oslo, actual Palestinian mass murderers will be set free soon enough.


"it remains to be seen whether Sharon and Bush will drop their demand that Palestinian terrorist groups be put out of business."

Unfortunately, it looks like that demand has been dropped already. Both Abbas and Dahlan have declared that they will not dismantle terrorist groups as required under the road map plan. And still, Israeli concessions and American financial rewards for the Palestinians are proceeding full steam.

[L@mplighterM]

I posted a copy of the roadmap and as far as I’m concerned there have been so many violations that it should be considered dead and gone. I do realize that it’s not in anyones interest to continue on the same path. The fact of the matter is that there are bad people in this world that do not seek peace, they never will.

I know that I’m just an outsider looking in on a situation and I’m not the one that’s subjected to terrorist attacks. A good friend of mine will be visiting Israel later this month to do some volunteer work and I wish her a safe return. My wife wanted to visit Israel but she opted to Holliday somewhere far away from from the dangers Israeli citizens face every day.

There’s no way that I could ever live in a place where death at the hand of terrorists are a daily reality. It’s not that I would be afraid to die I just wouldn’t be able to take the pressure.

It seems to me that terrorism has paid off for the Palestinians and that’s setting a dangerous precedent.

[ibrodsky]

Originally posted by NewsGuy
You're right about the percentage, but the criteria set by the GSS only bars releasing Palestinians with "Blood on their hands." This opens the door to release Palestinians who carried out violent acts against Israelis. In fact, just yesterday Sharon was quoted in the Israeli press as saying "We will be forced to release terrorists." Keep in mind that the release of Palestinian prisoners is to take place in stages.

Not only is it bad enough to think that Israel will release this batch of violent and dangerous Arabs, but I'd be willing to bet that, just like after Oslo, actual Palestinian mass murderers will be set free soon enough.


"it remains to be seen whether Sharon and Bush will drop their demand that Palestinian terrorist groups be put out of business."

Unfortunately, it looks like that demand has been dropped already. Both Abbas and Dahlan have declared that they will not dismantle terrorist groups as required under the road map plan. And still, Israeli concessions and American financial rewards for the Palestinians are proceeding full steam.

I see reports that the US is sending the terrorist PA more money, and that Israel is being pressured to release more terrorists. So you are correct.

What I don't understand is what has happened to the so-called "neo-cons"? Even Daniel Pipes has said he thinks the administration is pretty realistic about the conflict... the implication being that the US is giving Abbas et al a chance to fight terrorism, which of course will never happen.

[L@mplighterM]

I think that the PA has demonstrated quite clearly that it skims a percentage of the top from the money that it receives in aid/grants and use it for terrorism.

So you have a man that I consider a terrorist, that has a terrorist master (Arafat) and he’s (Abbas) in charge of fighting terrorism. This would be funny if it wasn’t such a serious situation; it’s like putting a fox in charge of the hen house and expecting it not to eat hens.

How about capturing bin Laden and Hussein and putting them in charge of Homeland Security in the US?

[L@mplighterM]

Snip:

Jul. 11, 2003
Mofaz: No more pullouts until action against terror
By HERB KEINON AND DAVID RUDGE

Israel will not withdraw from additional cities until the Palestinian Authority takes concrete steps against the terrorist infrastructure in Bethlehem and the Gaza Strip areas already under their control Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told his PA counterpart, Muhammad Dahlan, at a meeting at Erez on Thursday night.

The meeting lasted for two and a half hours with the two locked in a room alone for most of the time.

Israel is also unlikely to release any more Palestinian prisoners until Prime Minister Ariel Sharon meets with PA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas after Sharon's return from visits abroad next week, according to Israeli officials.

According to the officials, the net assessment of the defense establishment is that the PA is currently involved in containment preventing attacks from taking place.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad also benefit from this containment policy, the official said, because they are using the tactical cease-fire (hudna) as a period to rebuild and reorganize, and they don't want Israel to have a pretext for once again going back on the offensive.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1057890995842

[L@mplighterM]

July 7, 2003 Contact: (212-481-1500)

"Israel Accepted Road Map
Only Because of U.S. Pressure"

Israeli Cabinet Minister, In U.S., Says Bush's
Road Map Plan Is "A Great Victory For Terrorists"

NEW YORK - A senior Israeli cabinet minister, meeting with Jewish leaders in New York, called the Bush administration's Road Map plan is "a great victory for terrorists," and said that the Israeli government accepted the plan "only because of the tremendous pressure that the Bush administration put on Israel."

Efraim Eitam, Israel's Minister of Infrastructure, made his remarks at a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in New York City on Monday afternoon, July 7.

Eitam, who was a Brigadier-General in the Israeli Army prior to entering politics, said:

* Bush is pressuring Israel: "Tremendous pressure by the Bush administration is what caused the Israeli government to accept the Road Map. U.S. officials have been saying to Israel, 'Do this now' and 'Do this immediately'."

* The Road Map is a surrender to terror: "The Road Map is a pure reward for terrorism and it's even worse--it is a surrender to terrorism."

* Creating a Palestinian Arab state is victory for terrorists: "The establishment of a Palestinian state, in response to three years of Palestinian terrorism, will be the greatest victory for terrorism, and it will show terrorism everywhere that they can succeed and change history."

* The "Hudna" cease-fire allows the terrorists to rebuild: The so-called "Hudna," or temporary cease-fire by some of the terrorist groups, "simply gives the terrorist time to repair their damaged infrastructure." He added: "Under the cover of this so-called cease-fire, the terrorist groups are already greatly accelerating their production of rockets and preparing for the next round in their war to destroy Israel."

* The Road Map was formulated without consulting Israel: "The Road Map was invented by the State Department to bring about the creation of a Palestinian state. It was designed without the U.S. consulting a single important Israeli leader."

* The Road Map is more dangerous for Israel than Oslo: "The Road Map is even more dangerous than the Oslo accords, because it will create a Palestinian state that will endanger Israel."

Morton A. Klein, National President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), who attended the meeting, said: "Minister Eitam is to be commended for telling American Jews the truth: the Road Map is a State Department invention designed to force Israel to accept a deadly Palestinian Arab terrorist state. The Road Map will undermine America's war against terrorism by creating a terrorist state and sending a message to terrorists that terrorism pays."


http://www.zoa.org/pressrel/20030707a.htm


I agree!

[L@mplighterM]

Israeli died protecting girlfriend in terror attack
By MATTHEW GUTMAN

Amir Simhon, 24, did not die in vain, said friends and family, of the third victim of terror since the unilateral declaration of the Hudna some two weeks ago.

Realizing that the knife wielding terrorist was bearing down on him and his girlfriend, the Tel Aviv city inspector, who had just received a commendation for chasing down a thief on the same boardwalk, darted in front of his girlfriend and saved her life.

The 30 cm dagger slashed into his body, but his girlfriend was spared. At first rescue teams believed she had suffered grave wounds, but her clothes were soaked with SImhon's blood, not her own. Aviv Police spokesman said that Simhon absorbed the attacker's blows with his body, ultimately collapsing on top of her.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1058240687598

[L@mplighterM]

Snip:

Last Update: 18/07/2003 21:10

U.S.: Israel not doing enough on prisoner release

By Aluf Benn and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondents and Agencies

A senior United States official said this week, in a closed conversation, that Israel has not done enough regarding Palestinian prisoner releases, and must do more on the issue. The official said that Israel must show flexibility on the subject
of prisoners “with blood on their hands,” indicating those prisoners that Israel holds responsible for Israeli casualties.


The official added that the U.S. saw no point in holding talks
with the militant Hamas organization, and that what was
needed was to dismantle it. However, if the group is
disarmed, the U.S. would not oppose dialogue, due to the
fact that its members would not be considered Hamas activists.

The official also said that the U.S. had reservations regarding Israeli plans to pass the West Bank separation east of the
settlements of Ariel and Immanuel.

Between 40 to 60 Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists are now included on the list of some 400 Palestinian prisoners Israel is considering releasing, government sources said Thursday.

They said the Shin Bet has so far come up with a list of nearly 400 prisoners, but that the work of filtering those who can be released continues, and the number could grow.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/318884.html

[NewsGuy]

As a quick follow-up to this thread, here's a report from CBS indicating that soon Israel will be forced to release Palestinian murderers currently held in Israeli prisons, as predicted earlier in this thread:

From news article:

URL: http://cbsnews.cbs.com/stories/2003/...in564064.shtml

Israel may include a few dozen jailed Islamic militants along with several hundred other Palestinian prisoners being released, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday, and the number could grow.

[..]

Among a list of 400 prisoners Israel is considering releasing are as many as 60 from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which have dispatched scores of suicide bombers and gunmen to attack Israelis, Haaretz reported. However, the number could grow as the Shin Bet security service clears more for release.

There are other possibly contradictory statements in the article, but I am sure that this is the writing on the wall unfortunately.

I can just imagine the feelings of the Israeli families who lost loved ones in attacks committed by the Islamic terrorists about to be set free.

[L@mplighterM]

Originally posted by NewsGuy

Israel may include a few dozen jailed Islamic militants along with several hundred other Palestinian prisoners being released, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday, and the number could grow.

[..]

Among a list of 400 prisoners Israel is considering releasing are as many as 60 from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which have dispatched scores of suicide bombers and gunmen to attack Israelis, Haaretz reported. However, the number could grow as the Shin Bet security service clears more for release. [/news]

I don’t think that anarchy is the answer, but perhaps a general strike, if the Israeli government agrees to release hardcore criminals. I know for a fact that if it was my loved ones that had died at the hands of terrorists I could not sit still and let this happen.

This goes against the grain of civilization!

[L@mplighterM]

Snip:

Jul. 19, 2003
Will my daughter's killers be set free? By Stephen M. Flatow

As the road map unfolds, like many concerned about events in Israel I find myself once again praying for the best while preparing for the worst. However, I do so from a vantage point different from many others.

About noon on Sunday, April 9, 1995, a young man named Khalid el-Khatib sat in a van parked alongside the northbound side of the road leading to the settlement of Kfar Darom. The van was loaded with explosives. Seeing his target, the No. 36 Egged bus on the route from Ashkelon to Gush Katif, el-Khatib stepped on the gas, aimed for the side of the bus and, when he hit it, detonated the explosives in his van.

Eight died because of that attack, among them my 20-year-old daughter, Alisa, and more than 40 were wounded, some permanently.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1058624143754

It’s beginning to look like these murderous bastards will be released. Mere words can’t express the disgust that I hold for a government that agrees to release these savage hateful beasts.

If the Palestinians were sincere in wanting a lasting peace they would aid Israel in the prosecution and incarceration of these individuals.

[Mediocrates]

Seven Minutes of Peace Promotion
by Itamar Marcus
July 24, 2003

[This article originally appeared in the Jerusalem Post on July 18, 2003.]

During a Palestinian high school graduation ceremony last week the students preformed a ten minute Debka dance to the following repeating words: “With words and with a rifle we will sing... from Jerusalem to Gaza and Palestinian Shechem... Al-Bireh, Haifa, Jaffa and Ramle… The sound of a submachine gun… we will live and die, only that our homeland should return to us… I am a Palestinian… My weapon is the stone and the knife... Palestine will soon be restored… The stone and the knife will take the victory...” [July 7. 2003]

This joyous anticipation of Israel’s destruction through armed conflict at the graduation ceremony was played to hundreds of parents and students, and was broadcast on Palestinian TV. It should have brought outraged protest from Israel’s leaders and media, as continued education of Palestinian children to anticipate Israel’s destruction is all that is necessary to assure that war continues into the next generation. However, it was not even an issue in the Israeli media.

This is but one example of the great disparity between what is being reported in the Israeli press about today’s Palestinian world and what is really happening, as seen via the window of the Palestinian media. What is most striking is that the common denominator in all the Israeli media distortions is the attempt to create a perception that the PA now is sincerely promoting peace with Israel.

Last Friday’s Maariv ran a story entitled “Pizmon Chadash” - “a new refrain” - describing great changes it claimed had transpired in the Palestinian media. It wrote as “proof” of the significant changes in PA TV: “The songs praising the shahids have been silenced, and in their place is a new hit: ‘the song of peace and freedom’, which is played on PA TV nearly around the clock.” Maariv gives the impression that the PA has truly reformed and that an atmosphere of peace pervades PA TV. Unfortunately, this is nearly a total fabrication. The PA did produce a single video clip “song of peace and freedom”, but it was broadcast exactly once. Seven minutes of peace promotion - not quite “around the clock”. And those few minutes are completely overwhelmed by the continued broadcast of hate material, albeit on a smaller scale. There is certainly no peace atmosphere on PA TV.

The satisfaction expressed at the removal of shahid-glorification clips is likewise premature, and shows a lack of understanding of the Palestinian world. The PA is now running summer camps attended by thousands of children, and a dominant theme, as reported in their media, is shahid and suicide bomber adoration. This is as direct continuation of the PA educational policy for many years, teaching children to admire terrorist who killed large numbers of Israelis, by naming schools, sporting events, educational programs and institutions after those terrorists. In the past for example, Dalal Mughrabi - the terrorist who in 1978 participated in the murder of 36 Israelis and American nature photographer Gail Ruben - has a school near Hebron named for her, [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 30, 2002] a summer camp in 2001, [PA TV, August 9, 2001] a kindergarten, [Al-Ayyam, May 30, 2001] a woman’s youth course [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 25, 2002] and much more. Ayyat al-Akhras, the second woman suicide bomber, who struck the Kiryat Hayovel supermarket in Jerusalem, had a summer camp named for her last year. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, August 4, 2002] In January, a soccer tournament under the auspices of the PA Ministry of Education was named for the suicide bomber who murdered 30 in the Passover Seder Massacre.

This policy is continuing this summer. The PA daily reported this week on a summer camp named for Jihad Al-Amarin, the founder of the suicide terror division of the Fatah, the Al-Aksa Martyrs’ Brigade. And to guarantee the children understand the message, the camp activities included a visit to the terrorist’s home: “Yesterday the camp’s participants went to the home of the shahid Jihad Al-Amarin, where (they were greeted by) the shahid’s wife, children and family. During the visit there were speeches praising the virtues of the shahid Jihad Al-Amarin... The shahid’s wife expressed her joy at our people’s loyalty to her husband, stating that the shahid Jihad followed a national mission. During the visit the shahid’s wife was presented with the camp’s shield.” [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 13, 2003] This was but one among tens of summer camps named for shahids.

Even a dose of incitement to murder was included just this week on PA TV. Dr Hassan Khader, founder of the Al-Quds Encyclopedia, during a hate lecture focusing on what he describes as Israel’s war against Palestinian trees, made a point of also quoting what has been a repeating theme of PA religious teaching: “Mohammed said in his Hadith: ‘The Hour [Day of Resurrection] will not arrive until you fight the Jews, [until a Jew will hide behind a rock or tree] and the rock and the tree will say: “Oh Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him!”’” [PA TV July 13, 2003] This Hadith, which elevates the murder of Jews to a religious obligation, has been cited numerous times by PA leaders as mandatory in the current conflict. This week, PA TV chose to replay this old interview. Not quite “peace clips around the clock”.

So what, then, has changed in the PA media? Over the last few weeks there has been a drop in the quantity of incitement to hatred and violence on Palestinian television, but not in the quality. The message has not changed, as indicated by the Debka dance, but it is being dispensed in smaller doses. The holes in broadcasting time, that used to be filled with hours of hate clips, are being replaced by an occasional nature program, many hours of talk shows, which often include significant hate incitement, and by hours of cartoons. And a daily dose of hate clips is still included. Minutes a day, instead of hours.

If the goal is to look for technical improvements on the part of the PA in order to give them a good grade, then one might focus on the fewer hours of hate TV. However, if the goal is peace, then the celebrations of a change in PA TV are quite premature. The ideology must change. Peace must be taught. Israel must be recognized, not just in Washington, but in the PA high schools and graduation ceremonies, as well. Israel must appear on PA maps. Murder and hate education must be totally eliminated. If the goal is peace, then a few more hours of Mickey Mouse on TV just isn't going to be enough.
--------------------------------------------------------
Itamar Marcus is the director of Palestinian Media Watch.