Ayoon wa Azan ("Truce" or Dare!)

Jihad Al Khazen     Al-Hayat     2003/07/8

The Islamic resistance groups warned of reverting on their decision to cease military operations if the Israeli camp keeps violating its commitments.

In this regard, Dr. Ramadan Shallah, leader of the Islamic Jihad, said the resistance might actually go to action, meaning that it might not wait to issue a statement on resuming military operations.

Regarding the Israeli violations, he specifically spoke of the detainees, an issue that the Israeli Minister of Telecommunication, Avigdor Lieberman, mentioned provocatively when he said he preferred to sink the detainees in the Dead Sea, not to mention the Israeli chief of Staff who claimed they had triumphed.

Before calling Dr. Ramadan, I had spoken with Premier Abbas over the phone, and he seemed more optimistic about the situation, although he admitted that both camps were not fully committed to their promises. He said that the Palestinians who carried out the attacks were arrested and would be prosecuted, and added that the Palestinians had filed an official complaint against arresting people and other matters.

Tomorrow's meeting between Abbas and Sharon is expected to be important, as Palestinian Prime Minister wished to address the issue of detainees, which he says is a public Palestinian demand that does not only come from Hamas and Jihad, as well as the withdrawal from other Palestinian regions than Bethlehem.

Almost 8,000 Palestinian prisoners are detained in Israel, including 1,200 prisoners who get arrested without interrogation or trial. Palestinians want a few hundred of them to be immediately released, but Israeli sources have revealed that Sharon's response to this demand would be disappointing to Abbas.

Still, I found Abbas very optimistic, and he told me that U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice understood the Palestinian position and has promised to help, especially regarding the security wall and the settlements.

Abbas said that the wall was uncivilized and inhuman, adding that if they wished to build a security wall, they ought to do it on their own land. Moreover, the wall separates people, and prevents them from getting to their territories and divides the villages.

Furthermore, Abbas expressed his relief in dealing with both Hamas and Jihad, saying they commit to their promises and that they are not responsible for the violations.

However, I did find the leader of the Islamic Jihad complaining and threatening of resuming military actions if the situation remained unchanged, as he said that the commitment could not be one-sided, when the enemy was arresting people and still being provocative.

Dr. Ramadan also said "we are still patient and we will give them a chance, but we cannot work alone as we have not made our initiative to save Israel from its security, military and economic trouble and leave our people drown in poverty and misery."

In answer to my question, Ramadan did not set a specific date on when they would resume military operations, but he said it depended on the attitude of the other camp, and asserted that the resistance lacked no capacity or organization, "when we take a decision, we immediately carry it out." He reminded me that Sharon was never able to stop the armed operations, and the Palestinian resistance only made its decision to serve the Palestinian people, but could bring back Sharon and his government to their previous sufferings.

Not only did Shallah complain from Israelis, but he also complained from brother Mohammed Dahlan's stance and said he was acting "like a triumphing General threatening his people. Such a tone does not unite the Palestinians, especially that we heard it on Israeli television…"

Abbas is aware of the difficulties, but thinks he can overcome them, knowing that the Americans promised to help in dealing with Israelis, and that Sharon seemed more responsive during their last meeting, hoping he would still be during tomorrow's meeting.

I had called Jordanian Foreign Minister, Dr. Marwan al-Muashar, and asked him about his own assessment of the situation. He said that the next couple of weeks would be decisive, depending on whether both camps would be able to avoid any clashes or not.

Dr. Marwan also spoke like Abbas, as he had met with the head of Sharon's office and found him more responsive than in the past. He added that the Arab camp had managed to make Sharon's government change its stance regarding the Roadmap and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The Jordanian minister did not underestimate the magnitude of the obstacles, but he said that the American role is of paramount importance in making Israel stop building settlements and revert to the borders of September 28^th, 2000.

We do not need to wait long, as the few coming days will reveal whether the truce will go on, or the resistance will resume its military operations to face Israel's violations.