Israel Matzav

Olmert's latest farce

Last week, I noted that one of the many downsides of trading 1,000 - 1,400 terrorists for kidnapped IDF corporal Gilad Shalit was that it would result in Hamas being credited with a major achievement in the eyes of the 'Palestinians,' while it would leave Fatah out in the cold. Such an event could even spell Fatah's demise, because it would be taken by the 'Palestinians' to mean that 'armed struggle,' the Hamas way, brings results, while 'armed struggle,' the Fatah way, does not bring results.

Now on its last legs, and desparate to bring Shalit home before the end of its term, the Olmert-Livni-Barak government believes it has found a way to do the deal without harming Fatah's standing among the'Palestinians.' What's amazing about this deal is that they apparently actually believe that the 'Palestinians' will be foolish enough to credit this to Fatah and not to Hamas.

Channel 10 cable television reported Sunday night that the Olmert-Livni-Barak government wants to release the man who is probably security prisoner number 1, Marwan the murdering moron Barghouti, to the tender loving care of 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen. The government actually believes that the 'Palestinians' will be fooled by Barghouti's release, and will credit Abu Mazen and not Hamas for arranging it. As if releasing Barghouti were not a condition for Gilad Shalit's release. No, they're not kidding.

To help Fatah, one idea under discussion was the possibility of releasing Barghouti ahead of the prisoner swap with Hamas, according to Israel's Channel 10 television. An Israeli source told Reuters this option was under consideration but that no decisions have been taken.

"There will not be a Shalit deal without the release of Marwan Barghouti," Barghouti's lawyer, Hader Shkirat, told Israel's Channel 10 television.

"The deal is closer than ever. We think and hope it will be very, very soon, perhaps in a few days."

I'll bet they want it to happen. But for Israel, this deal is a disaster. All it does is give the 'Palestinians' a huge incentive to go out and kidnap some more hostages. And releasing Marwan Barghouti to Abu Mazen instead of to Hamas in Gaza isn't going to fool anybody. We all know to whom Olmert and Co. are capitulating. And it sure isn't Abu Mazen.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:06 AM