Editor's Letter The Palestinian Facade D on't trust the Palestinian Authority, the so-called mod- erate Palestinian political wing governing the West Bank, until it proves its desire for peace with Israel. Consider what an official of Fatah, the ruling political party, said in a P.A. TV interview: The P.A. will resume violence and terror against Israel when Fatah is capable of doing so and "according to what seems right:' Peace is not a Fatah goal, said a defi- ant Kifah Radaydeh on July 7, reports the Jerusalem-based Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), one of the West's key pipelines for Middle East truth. "It has been said that we are negoti- ating for peace,' Radaydeh stated. "But our goal has never been peace. Peace is a means; the goal is Palestine The clarity of that statement is unde- niable. Radaydeh framed that position by saying "we do not rule out the possibility of the armed struggle or any other struggle." She went on to drive home a point every Jew should ponder: "I do not negotiate in order to achieve peace. I negotiate for Palestine in order to achieve a state Just The Facts responded with applause when two terrorists who commit- ted the worst terror attack in Israel's history were referred to as martyrs. The speaker was Ahmed Queria, the chief P.A. negotiator in peace talks with Israel. He spoke at the opening ceremony of a Fatah general conference. Dalal Mughrabi and Khaled Abu-Usbah hijacked an Israeli bus in 1978 and mur- dered 37 Israelis, including 12 kids. Also on Aug. 4, Fatah convened in Bethlehem for its first con- gress in 20 years. Nasr Jom'a, a delegate to the P.A. parliament, said the congress sought to rebuild the once dominant, but now struggling party of Yasser Arafat. In a Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) story, Jom'a said: "It's an important step in the life of Fatah and comes at a critical time in the political life of the Palestinian people. Fatah has deteriorated over the years. Its political agenda may have been convincing, but its leaders have become corrupt:' Now that's an honest appraisal. Jehad Hamdan, a former economics professor who now heads the institute responsible for civil servants in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, told JTA that Fatah has made strides in correcting its financial "misadministration" — its corruption. He said Fatah maintains a support base. "I don't think Fatah has lost the people,' he said. "Fatah is still strong, but it does need to renew itself." It can start by recognizing Israel's right to exist peacefully, with secure borders and as a Jewish state. Hamas, the ter- ror-monger that rules Gaza, isn't alone in declaring that jihad against Israel isn't dead. Don't be fooled. When Fatah, and by extension its leader, President Mahmoud Abbas, refers to Palestine, it really means the Land of Israel — the pre-1948 borders. PMW reports that the Fatah flag still shows the map of Israel under rifles. The same symbol appears on the Fatah Web site and official Fatah Internal R.A. Strife publications. A P.A. TV documentary aired monthly since 2007 JTA concluded its Fatah congress account by indicating that affirms denial of the existence of Israel. The script includes the Fatah exiles "tend to have a harder-line approach on issues like telling phrase, affa, an ancient coastal city, is the bride of the armed resistance" than West Bank party activists, who are gen- sea and Palestine's gateway to the world." erally seen as "more tempered and prag- A. P.A. strongman Muhammad Dahlan matic, having lived through two intifa- stresses that Fatah won't recognize Israel. das." JTA then cited Ahmed Mohammed He said recognition by the P.A. is a politi- Deik, a Fatah delegate from Yemen, cal ploy to gain international standing who perceptively acknowledged that — and foreign aid. the party's main challenge is not Israel The tactic is working: The United or the West, but its main Palestinian States has transferred $200 million to the rival: "The world supports our national Palestinian government to help ease a project, but Hamas — that is our big- growing budget deficit in the wake of the gest problem." Clearly, the world doesn't eight-year-long Palestinian reign of ter- "support" Fatah's discredited mission. ror and Israel's defensive response. Fatah's flag shows g uns held over Israel. But Deik correctly isolates Hamas as Listen to Dahlan's logic: Recognizing Fatah's top adversary. Israel is required of the P.A. to attract assistance for reconstruc- Political commentators are feasting on President Obama's tion and relief. "This can be dealt with [only] by a government belief that Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and that has relations with the international community, one that is east Jerusalem is an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace. I acceptable to the international community, in order that we can doubt the president backs a complete settlement freeze. And work together and benefit from the international community:' a prolonged debate would obscure fundamental matters He's politically astute. like security, borders, Jerusalem, refugees, Palestinian sover- I understand America aiding the innocent Palestinians who eignty and settlement evacuation, as the Washington-based have fallen prey to their terrorist leaders' desire to destroy Israel. Foundation for Middle East Peace suggests. So I urge the presi- But we shouldn't view the P.A., Fatah or President Abbas as a dent to define "freeze" and reconsider the variables. legitimate peace partner until there's a legitimate reason to do The central issue disrupting any progress is unmistakable: so. It's maddening that Palestinian schoolbooks and television deceptive, depraved and failed Palestinian leadership. ❑ routinely and defiantly teach kids to imagine a world without Israel, and I dare say, Jews. To think Israel can compromise with 0 : Should Fatah be trusted • a political entity bent on destroying it is naive. in any new peace talks? Same Old, Same is Still straddling the fence? Then consider: The Palestinian Media Watch issued an Aug. 4 report that Fatah leaders W Q Z z 5 0 an- Are Hamas and Fatah irreconcilably split? Don't Miss These JARC 40th Anniversary Events! Va era PARTY LIKE IT'S 1969! 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