Should Republicans go ahead and add Supreme Court Justices to head off Democrats

PA deployment coincides with significant reduction in attacks against Israel

Jerusalem Post:

Attacks on Israeli targets in and from Gaza have almost ceased since the Palestinian Authority ordered the deployment of some 4,000 police officers along the Strip's border with Israel.

The deployment began early Friday morning in the northern Gaza Strip and by Saturday troops were also guarding the border in the south to ensure the areas were not used as launching pads for attacks.

The troops, under the command of Moussa Arafat, have so far encountered little resistance.

The deployment came after Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Thursday night approved a Palestinian request to deploy large Palestinian forces to curb mortar and rocket attacks on Israeli communities.

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly instructed PA policemen to open fire on any Kassam-launching terrorists in northern Gaza.

Palestinian officials told The Jerusalem Post that Abbas would dismiss officers at the Karni crossing after an internal probe reportedly revealed that the crossing's manager had aided terrorists in carrying out the attack which killed six Israelis there on January 13.

Fatah's Aksa Martyrs Brigades announced Saturday that they would halt attacks on Israel if Israel agreed to a mutual cease-fire and released Palestinian prisoners. Islamic Jihad also hinted it would agree to a truce provided Israel meets a series of conditions, like ending targeted killings, ending military incursions and releasing all Palestinian prisoners.

This is a real mixed bag. It shows that the PA can stop the attacks if it wants to. However, merely dismissing people who are guilty as accessories to murder does not suggest a serious commitment to stopping terrorism. The terrorist conditions for a cease fire are laughable. The targeted killings and incursions will stop when the terrorism stops. Releasing terrorist is a fools choice.