Israel Pardons Another Wave Of Terrorists, Hamas Fires Another Wave Of Rockets At Israeli Schools And Hospitals

Yeah, OK:

Gaza militants fired a Qassam rocket at Israel on Monday in a fresh violation of the truce between Israel and Hamas in the coastal territory, according to Army Radio. The rocket did not reach Israeli territory... The cease-fire... has been occasionally violated by Palestinian rocket and mortar fire, leading Israel to punitively shut Gaza's border crossings.

At least they've only been occasional violations. Can't imagine how bad it would be if they were regular violations.

I was going to use this story to make a glib remark about how Olmert chose a bad day to float massive land concessions, as there doesn't seem to be any positive correlation between Israeli concessions and Palestinian peace sentiments. But instead I'm going to use this story to make a glib remark about how Olmert chose a bad day to float massive land concessions, as there doesn't seem to be any positive correlation between Israeli concessions and Palestinian peace sentiments:

Palestinians fired at two Israeli vehicles near the West Bank city of Qaliqilya early on Saturday. One of the drivers was lightly injured and his car damaged. He was evacuated to a Petah Tikva hospital, and IDF forces began to search the area for the suspects... Earlier this week Palestinians threw molotov cocktails and stones at Israeli vehicles south of Qalqilya. No injuries were reported. A few days earlier a similar occurrence took place east of Qalqilya, and two vehicles were damaged.

Israel just got done pardoning another wave of Fatah terrorists who crossed their hearts and promised never to do it again. I'm sure it'll be nothing like the last time, when the IDF had to go back and get the pardoned Fatah terrorist who - shockingly - continued being a terrorist. One wonders if any of this batch meets Abbas's definition of a hero. Or have none of them gunned down enough Israeli schoolchildren to get that honor? Or not bombed enough family restaurants to get a medal? Well, at least now they'll get another chance.

On the plus side, these pardons are part of a broader strategy of prying apart Fatah and Hamas by making concessions to Fatah. A total and spectacular failure of a broader strategy. But still a strategy!

References:
* Gaza militants fire Qassam at Israel, in fresh truce violation [Ha'aretz]
* Hamas Continues Long Tradition Of "Shaking" And "Threatening" And "Endangering" Ceasefire By Firing Dozens Of Rockets At Israeli Schools And Hospitals [MR]
* Olmert: We must leave most of W. Bank [JPost]
* Israeli injured by Palestinian fire near Qalqilya [YNet]
* Israel pardons 24 Al-Aqsa Brigades activists in Nablus [Ma'an]
* Israel arrests Fatah man who was pardoned but 'returned to terror' [JPost]
* PA Daily: Mass Murderer is a Martyr [A7]
* Abbas To Award PA's Highest Medal To Hamas Terrorist Responsible For Sbarro Massacre [MR]
* 'Israeli Gestures attempt to pry Fatah from Hamas' [JPost]
* Fatah To Politically Cede West Bank, Palestinian Authority To Hamas (Plus: Remember Obama's Magical "I Only Negotiate With Terrorist States" Threshold?) [MR]