Mere Rhetoric: Palestinians Complain About How Israel Is Hurting Abbas - On The Same Day Israel Arrests 18 Abbas-Linked Terrorists

Usually when we see a story like Palestinians: Israel's treatment of Rafah Crossing hurting Abbas we kind of roll our eyes and get on the increasingly common task of compiling all the reasons why Abbas is someone who's not really worth strengthening. The usual stuff: he doesn't seem interested in combating Hamas, he told the Palestinians to turn their guns on Israelis, etc.

But reality chose to make our lives a little easier today, and perfectly juxtaposed these whines about how Israel is weakening the oh-so-moderate Abbas with a story about 18 Abbas-linked terrorists:

Israel Defense Forces troops raided the Palestinian military headquarters in Ramallah early Wednesday and arrested 18 fugitives who had sought shelter there, Palestinian security officials said. In the raid, some 30 military jeeps surrounded the building. Troops firing stun grenades and shooting in the air called on the fugitives to surrender, then entered the compound and seized 18 wanted men, the security officials said. Among those taken was Khalil Shilo, a member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a violent offshoot of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. Shilo had been on the run for seven years, since the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising in 2000.

So yeah, maybe the whole Abbas is stronger / Abbas is weak debate isn't so important. It seems like the Abbas is linked to terrorism / Abbas is not linked to terrorism debate would come before the first one. At least, you know, in a sane world.

Best line from the arrest raid:

A Palestinian security source estimated that among the men arrested were senior officials, some who had been involved in perpetrating terror attacks against Israel. The source told Ynet that in the course of the operation, another IDF force had encircled the general intelligence office, headed by Tawfiq Tirawi. "It is odd that while Israel talks of strengthening the Palestinian president, Abu Mazen, it launches such large military operations against his loyalists," he said.

Yeah - it's really odd that Abu Mazen has terrorist loyalists. No seriously, it's odd. Someone should mention that.

References:
* Palestinians: Israel's treatment of Rafah Crossing hurting Abbas [Ha'aretz]
* IDF raids Fatah offices in Ramallah
* US State Department: "Money And Weapons To Palestinians Won't Benefit Hamas" - This Is Insultingly Stupid. [MR]

Previously:
* Europe to Try Again, Train Palestinian Police Officers
* Palestinians Promise Murder, Threaten Fragile Ceasefire
* Tell Us, President Abbas, How Can We Help You Today?