Israel Matzav

Abu Bluff to demand that Barghouti and Saadat be freed

'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen plans to demand the release of terrorists Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat as a precondition to continuing 'talks' when he meets with President Hussein Obama on Monday.

According to the London-based pan-Arab daily newspaper Al-Hayat, Abbas wants to present his people with a significant political achievement, hence he will spell out his terms to Obama as a way to “break the ice” between the two leaders.  

Peace negotiations between Israel and the PA are due to run their originally scheduled nine-month course by the end of April, with Washington seeking both sides’ signatures on a framework agreement that would allow the talks to continue.

According to Al-Hayat, if Abbas’ terms are accepted by the Israeli government, the Palestinians would acquiesce to extend the talks to the end of this calendar year.

Observers believe that Abbas will reject Kerry’s framework proposals, though he will be flexible regarding other American proposals that would permit the negotiations to continue beyond the nine-month deadline, according to Al-Hayat. Specifically, the Palestinian leader is seeking additional confidence-building measures by the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Thus far, the Palestinians have refused Kerry’s proposal for recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Ramallah has also balked at an Israeli military presence within a future Palestinian state on the West Bank.

...

Palestinian observers believe that Abbas is hoping to secure Barghouti’s release so that he could groom him to be his successor as head of Fatah. Given that the Palestinian leader has yet to anoint a replacement, it is assumed that tapping Barghouti would be a popular move on the Palestinian street.

Barghouti is serving five life terms in prison for his role in attacks that killed and wounded several Israelis during the second intifada. Sa'adat has been jailed since 2008 for planning the murder of former tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi.

 Let's just hope that Netanyahu is not foolish enough to give up those two for an extension of the endless 'negotiations.' Then it will just be a question of who gets blamed.

Even Bill Clinton knew when to tell the 'Palestinians' to get off. Obama probably doesn't.

Labels: Abu Mazen, Ahmed Saadat, Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu, Marwan Barghouti

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:05 AM