You've got to love Palestinian "moderates"

From the always-invaluable MEMRI comes this from PLO Executive Committee Secretary Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), regarded as second in leadership to Arafat. There is what appears a rather moderate (as in, not lauding bombers directly, speaking only of "martyrs") speech given to the heads of the "Popular Councils" of the Gaza Strip refugee camps. Mazen criticized the militarization of the current Intifada, but then gave away that he is not at all serious about a peace with Israel when he broached the subject of Palestinian "refugees".

The tone and tenor of most of the remarks are not one that condemns the use of terrorism against civilians. There is no sorrow expressed that babies, mothers, grandmothers, and other civilians have been killed in the name of the Palestinian cause. What is expressed is simply regret that the tactics have not worked; they have hardened the resolve of Israel and solidified the political position of Arik Sharon.

Mazen even boldly compares Sharon to Theodor Herzl, showing that Arabs don't know turkey pea squat about the Zionist movement. Perhaps an oversimplification, but Herzl stood for the intellectual Jew and disdained the gritty, hard physical labor Zionist movement of which Likud generally and Sharon specifically are the inheritors (see, for example, The Jewish State, by Yoram Hazony).

Mazen then lauds the Saudi "Arab initiative" which includes a "right of return" for all Palestinian refugees. There in fact, is this extract from his remarks:

Israel Must Accept the Right of Return


"I listened honestly to a number of MKs and Israeli ministers. They asked how many refugees want to return. When they say these things, [it means that] they agree in principle. I told them: 'Agree to the principle and I will give you the number.' At Camp David they asked for the number and we told them: 'If you acknowledge the principle we will give you the number now.'

Acknowledgement of the principle was the beginning. That is, [first comes the stage of] Israel's recognition of the right of every Palestinian refugee to return to his land. Then the refugee can choose whether or not to return. [Then] negotiations will begin on implementation and on possible options in each individual case."

Now, a large majority of those who left or were kicked out of Israel in 1948 (yes, do the math -- 53 years ago) have been deliberately kept in "refugee" status by Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria. It is thus far from clear why Israel must accept any of these people back. Also, unto what generation does this "right of return" apply? Given the time that has passed, surely most of those who actually lived in pre-1948 Israel have gone on to meet their maker; those left are the children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren.

It seems this is just another attempt to accomplish with demographics what Arabs are too weak or cowardly to do with force -- eliminate Israel as a Jewish state. In any event, the Palestinian "Authority" has yet to change its official charter that calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. Period.