Sharon orders all contact severed with PA government

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered all contact cut with newly elected Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas until Abbas reins in terrorists, a Sharon spokesman said Friday.

The report comes following a deadly attack Thursday night at the Karni terminal crossing in the Gaza Strip, in which six Israelis were killed, and five civilians were wounded.

In response, Israel has announced that it will not negotiate with the PA until the attack is investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.

In don't think this is the right move given that Israel is bound to hunt down the people involved in this attack anyway - what's the rush?

Saeb Erakat, spokesman for the Palestinians also has a good point, at least one that will be easily swallowed by the Western media:

Erekat viewed the gesture as extreme and wholly unjustified, in particular because the PA's chairman-elect Mahmoud Abbas has not yet entered office. Erekat noted that Abbas has vowed to take steps against violence, but he has not yet been in the position of authority to do so. Abbas will be sworn in as PA chairman at noon this Saturday.

The reality is that Mahmoud Abbas has been the chairman of both the PLO and Fatah since Yasser Arafat's death. The Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade is the militant faction of Fatah. They were responsible, with others, for the terrorist attack in Gaza yesterday. Therefore, either Abbas is bullshitting everyone and condones terrorism just like Arafat did, or he can't control the organization that he purportedly leads.

Looks like Powell can see through all the Palestinian b.s. as well:

Referring to Abbas by his familiar name, Powell said "Abu Mazen, who I know very well, knows full-well, and we've talked about it many times, that he's got to get these terrorists under control."

Powell did not criticize Sharon for his break with Abbas, rather praised the Israeli Prime-Minister for welcoming the election of the new Palestinian leader and saying he wants to be a partner for peace with him.