/-
/-
ners strung across the dusty ing, the swarm of arms in inch-
streets of Gaza town is a laconic vidual hands in Gaza — which,
one that reads: "The Palestinian it can be reasonably argued, pose
Authority, Telephone Fax: a threat to the policemen per-
861517, 864991." That, however, sonally — will be difficult enough
is the only sign of the new civil in itself (Islamic Jihad vowed it
administration anywhere on the would not disarms and would, in-
ground. At this writing, the PLO stead, keep attacking Israelis).
had yet to complete the appoint- Hunting down terrorists who
ment of the 24-member Author- have attacked Israelis, which is
ity or assign portfolios to the 18 precisely what the Israeli public
people who have already ac- has been given to expect, may
cepted posts. On this score, Mr. well leave the police open to
Rabin has pointed his finger charges of being Israel's "lackeys"
squarely at Yassir Arafat, sug- who have picked up where the
gesting that the PLO chairman IDF left off.
Almost immediately, then, the
(who is famed for an inability to
delegate responsibility) actually Muslim radicals have challenged
wants confusion to prevail until the Cairo agreement at it's most
his own arrival in Jericho, lest his vulnerable point — and, by the
officials discover that they can way, has given the Israeli oppo-
sition enough ammunition to last
manage matters without him.
One could argue, perhaps, that until the 1996 elections. Logic, of
the pace and level of organization course, dictates that the Pales-
in the Autonomy is solely the tinian police will want to stamp
Palestinians' affair. But no one out terrorism if only because peo-
knows better than the Israelis ple allowed to operate against Is-
rael will inevitably turn their
guns on the PLO.
But logic is not necessarily the
leading force in the Middle East.
And in the light of situation, Mr.
Rabin decided to create a
"breather" by temporarily closing
even the "safe passage" roads to
Gazans, on top of the closure that
has been in effect for weeks.
But that measure has pitfalls
of its own.
For as the Palestinians are
quick to point out, banning the
that wherever a vacuum exists passage of workers and goods
in the territories, especially in the through and into Israel only ag-
sphere of social services, it is gravates the dire poverty in Gaza,
quickly filled by the mosques, which is a key source of the vio-
schools, and charities of the Is- lence.
But with a skeptical public be-
lamic movement.
Such a development, Israel be- fore him and the opposition snap-
lieves, is very much its affair. For ping at his heels, Mr. Rabin has
the more people turn to Hamas difficulties of his own. And true
institutions to fill their needs, the to form, he has decided to hack
stronger the movement's politi- through the welter of confusion
cal power will grow. And the and paradox by reminding Pales-
stronger Hamas grows, the poor- tinians that in the final analysis,
er the chances that the peace the success of the autonomy ex-
periment is their problem.
process will come to anything.
"This is a test," he has effec-
All these problems were
brought to a head almost tively told the PLO. With all due
immediately by last Friday's ter- understanding for a nascent
rorist attacks, which highlighted regime's problems, and even con-
the delicate position of the Pales- ceding that the bloodshed "is the
tinian police. In the event of ter- price of ruling over a foreign peo-
ror attacks in Israeli-controlled ple," Israel will not implement
territory, the IDF has the right the next stage of the Israeli-Pales-
of "hot pursuit" into the Autono- tinian accord —extending au-
my area (though only if it engages tonomy to the West Bank — until
the culprits immediately). Yet it the PLO has proven that it can
is obviously in the interests of control the areas already under
both sides to avoid the spectacle its jurisdiction (and until Mr.
of Israeli soldiers speeding Arafat stops making statements
through the streets of "liberated" such as his South African mosque
remarks about "jihad" and abro-
Gaza.
To forestall that prospect, the gating agreements.
In short, "Gaza-Jericho First"
Palestinian police will have to ful-
fill their obligation to prevent acts will become Gaza-Jericho Only"
of terror from taking place. But unless the Palestinians — and
that leaves them in the bind of Mr. Arafat above all — get down
having to establish their author- to the task of making autonomy
ity over the population while not work.
Right now that looks dicey. But
acting in any way that would
that, too, was known from the
alienate their own people.
Collecting, or at least register- start. I I
Meed a
l'"INP7 change
of scene?
Faced with PLO
ineptitude, more
Palestinians may
turn to rejectionist
Islamic groups to fill
their needs.
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