Israel Matzav

Abu Mazen wants to deploy PLO troops from Jordan; Investments in 'Palestine' drop 60%

Al-AP is reporting that the Israeli government is considering a request from 'moderate Palestinian President' Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen to deploy troops from the PLO's Badr brigade in Jordan against Hamas. In the past, Israel has denied requests to deploy the Badr brigade in Judea, Samaria or Gaza, but this time it is 'considering' the request. Palestinian officials did not say how many Badr forces Abbas hopes to mobilize. What is most important to him is that he would command their loyalty as head of the PLO.

Two more interesting tidbits from the same Al-AP report:

Abbas plans to dissolve the Hamas-led government within two weeks if the Islamic militant group doesn't agree to form a coalition with Fatah, Palestinian officials said Friday.

Comment - I'll believe it when I see it. Abu Mazen is afraid to pull the trigger like that.

Abbas confidant Saeb Erekat announced in Ramallah that the Palestinians' gross domestic product (GDP) was projected to drop 28 percent in 2006 to $2.9 billion (€2.3 billion) from $4.04 billion (€3.2 billion) in 2005. The projections were based on data from the first nine months of the year, Erekat said.

Investments this year are projected to drop 60 percent to $400 million (€320 million), from $1 billion (€800 million) in 2005, he said.

Erekat blamed the decline on the international aid freeze, imposed in March to pressure Hamas to recognize Israel and disarm, and Israeli closures of vital border crossings.

He warned that if the economic decline continued, the Palestinian areas would face "total collapse."

Awww.....

I don't see why Israel should be taking sides between Hamas and Fatah. One is no better than the other. It's time for us to acknowledge that - Abu Mazen and Haniyeh differ in their tactics, but not in their ultimate goals.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:35 AM