If there was any doubt that Yasir Arafat & Company consider our national tragedy as anything but an opportunity, a September 21 Associated Press dispatch should dispel it. As has been widely reported, soon after the events of September 11 Arafat announced a cease-fire with much fanfare and agreed to halt attacks against Israel. Israel promptly announced that it would ease restrictions on the movements of Palestinians and would suspend offensive operations against them. Of course, Palestinian attacks continued. Yet here is what the AP reported:
Meeting late Thursday, the Palestinian Cabinet issued a statement expressing commitment to the cease-fire and complaining that Israel has not reciprocated by lifting roadblocks and restrictions that have crippled the Palestinian economy during nearly a year of fighting.
So the “peace process” pattern continues. Israel and the Palestinians agree, Israel partially performs, and for the Palestinians it is business as usual. And the Palestinians cry, “But you promised.”
Some things never change.
