No Sign of Change in Abbas, Fatah, Some Say
By Julie Stahl
CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief
June 25, 2007

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - There is no sign that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas or his Fatah faction have altered their positions or changed their ideology toward Israel since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip after a week-long battle 11 days ago, some here are saying.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was meeting with Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah II on Monday to discuss ways to strengthen Abbas and isolate Hamas.

Both Israel and the U.S. view Abbas as a moderate because he openly calls for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But critics note that the charter of Abbas' Fatah faction still calls for the destruction of Israel. They also note that Abbas has never dismantled the terrorist infrastructure in his midst despite pledges to do so.

Ahead of the regional summit, the Israeli cabinet on Sunday approved the resumption of tax fund transfers to the Palestinian Authority. The funds, collected by Israel according to an agreement between Israel and the PLO, were frozen after Hamas formed the P.A. government last year following parliamentarian elections.

But despite the jolt that Abbas and his Fatah faction received by the Hamas takeover in the Gaza Strip, there has not been any fundamental change in the group since then, said Dr. Michael Widlanski, a Palestinian expert and lecturer at the Rothberg School of Hebrew University.

"It's the same old Fatah which has no desire to live with Israel," said Widlanski, who has been monitoring Palestinian television and radio broadcasts.

Fatah is jealous of Hamas, which turned out to be stronger and more committed and motivated than Fatah thought they were, Widlanski told Cybercast News Service. Fatah always wanted Hamas to recognize it as an "elder brother," and Hamas refused, he said.

There has been no change in Fatah's ideology, said Widlanski. They are trying to smooth over the situation and propagandize the Israelis, he said. Israel is making the same mistakes over and over again, he added.

Olmert downplayed expectations from the summits, admitting that there were risks involved. But, since Israel must have a partner on the Palestinian side, and since Hamas is out of the question, there's no one else but Abbas, he said.

Olmert has expressed concern that Abbas could strike another deal with Hamas like he did in February, when he formed a unity government with the militant group.

Nevertheless, Olmert said he would not "spare any effort to create a platform" on which the two sides could proceed (toward negotiations).

Abbas political advisor Nemer Hamad said Israel must change its approach from unilateralism to viewing Abbas as a partner. Monday's summit would be considered successful if it created a "diplomatic horizon," Israel Radio quoted Hamad as saying.

Hamad also pledged that the P.A. would disarm terrorists on the West Bank, including Fatah's own al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades (which has claimed responsibility for many murderous terror attacks over the last seven years).

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh blasted the summit on Sunday, saying the Palestinians would not achieve anything through summits but only "through resistance" - resistance being a euphemism for terrorism.

Israeli editorials also expressed skepticism that the summit would produce any meaningful changes in the situation.

Sever Plocker noted that if Abbas promises to disarm Hamas at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit it won't be the first time.

In 1996, 22 heads of state convened in that Egyptian resort to force then-P.A. Chairman Yasser Arafat to deal with Hamas. But it didn't happen, Plocker wrote in an opinion piece in the Israeli daily YNET.

"Will the historic promise of the 1996 Sharm summit to eliminate Hamas once and for all and bring law and order to the Palestinian Authority be realized this time? I take the liberty to doubt it," Plocker wrote.

The Jerusalem Post suggested that it would be better not to risk Israeli lives until Abbas proves that he is taking action.

"Putting the cart of security concessions before the horse of a Palestinian crackdown against terrorism endangers Israelis, deprives Abbas of his main reason to act, and thereby endangers the chances, however slim, of moving forward," the Jerusalem Post editorial said.

It is unclear what other gestures Israel might make to Abbas.

Washington wants Israel to ease travel restrictions for Palestinians on the West Bank as a means of strengthening Abbas. Israel uses roadblocks and checkpoints as a security measure to stop suicide bombing attacks.

Olmert reportedly is considering the transfer of military equipment, including armored vehicles and bulletproof vests, to the P.A. despite objections from cabinet ministers, the Israeli Internet site YNET reported.

Olmert was quoted as saying that such decisions would be made "according to the recommendations" of Washington's special security advisor to Israel and the P.A., Gen. Keith Dayton.

Palestinians also want Israel to release at least some of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners Israel is holding for their involvement in terror attacks or planned attacks.

Olmert has refused to release any Palestinian prisoners for the past year. He says no one will be released until the Palestinians free abducted Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit.

Shalit was abducted a year ago Monday, in a cross-border raid. Several terror groups, including Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), jointly claimed responsibility.

PRC spokesman Abu Mujahid said on Monday that Shalit is alive and well. He was quoted by the Palestinian news agency Maan as saying that his group is demanding the release of female Palestinian detainees, children, and leaders of Palestinian factions and long-term prisoners.