Weapons given to Fatah end up in terrorist hands. This has been a demonstrably true statement for the better part of a decade. Either the Fatah people become terrorists, or they give the weapons to terrorists, or the terrorists hijack the weapons en route after fortuitously guessing the time and place of the delivery.

And now this:

Don't give invaluable resources to people who are likely to be overthrown by radical forces. Don't give invaluable resources to people who are likely to be overthrown by radical forces. Don't give invaluable resources to people who are likely to be overthrown by radical forces. This is not a radical proposition.

The fantasy of "bolstering moderate forces" by giving them arms and concessions has never worked. At best it just paints them as Western stooges. Far more often it provides bait for their overthrow. The post-Sinai weapons transfers to Egypt were a mistake because Egypt is one disgruntled general away from being the most dangerous country in the Middle East - don't compound the error by giving them nuclear technology. Post-Gulf I cooperation with the elder Assad was a mistake because his weaker son is now a de-facto Iranian proxy - don't compound the mistake by giving him the Golan. Not letting Israel unleash its full might against Hezbollah so as not to destabilize Siniora was a mistake because now the country is on the verge of losing its anti-Syrian parliamentary majority - don't compound the mistake by also opening talks with Hezbollah and flooding the region with resources.

References:
* Israel Captures Terrorist Who Was Leading Abbas's Anti-Terrorism Forces
* US Government To Give Palestinian Terrorists Cutting-Edge Weapons
* Israel Captures Terrorist Who Was Leading Abbas's Anti-Terrorism Forces
* Fatah on verge of collapse as "Hamastan" emerges in Gaza [Israel Insider]

Previously:
* Palestinian Civil Society Watch - They're Murdering Nurses and Shooting People Against Walls
* International Community Can't Understand Why Israel is Unwilling to Let Palestinians Violate International Agreements
* Palestinian Civil Society Watch - MR Has Some Questions About Yesterday's School Shooting In Gaza

Cross-posted to:
* The Astute Bloggers
* Israpundit