How many hundreds of millions has the US State Department given this guy in the last few months? I'm only asking because I suspect that it might not be having the moderating influence we were promised:

"The Palestinian leadership will continue to follow Yasser Arafat's path until a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday during a memorial service marking the fourth anniversary of the iconic Palestinian leader's death. During the memorial, held at Abbas' Mukataa compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian president said, "The path of the shahids - Arafat, George Habash (founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) and (assassinated Hamas spiritual leader) Sheikh Ahmed Yassin - is the path that we cherish; it is aimed at upholding the Palestinians' nationalist and sovereign resolutions."

Fantastic. You might remember Yassin as "among the most brazen killers that the modern Middle East has produced." So definitely someone you want the kids to emulate.

In Gaza, on the other hand, Hamas banned pro-Arafat memorials. The guy was apparently too moderate. Follow his example and you'll end up merely trying to run Israeli cars off the road like they're doing in the West Bank. Better to spend one's time trying to slip massively armed terror cells into Israel.

Maybe this is something newly rehired Obama diplomat Robert Malley can ask about when he comes back for one of those Hamas talks he's so fond of.

References:
* Hamas Launching Dozens Of Rockets From Palestinian Neighborhoods, Attacking Israeli Troops (Plus: US Announces $14 Million In New Aid) [MR]
* Abbas at Arafat memorial: We'll continue to follow shahids' path [YNet]
* Europe: Yassin's Death Will Make Arabs Start To Hate Israel [MR]
* Hamas bans Arafat memorial in Gaza [YNet]
* Woman lightly wounded as Palestinians stone her car near Bethlehem [JPost]
* IDF thwarts terror cell's attempt to infiltrate Israel [YNet]
* Obama Adviser Who Met With Hamas Is Back [Jawa]
* Top Obama Adviser Carries Obama Foreign Policy To Logical Conclusion - Meets With Hamas And Then Resigns So It Won't Be A "Distraction" [MR]

Previously:
* Israel Foils Massive Impending Attack, Hamas Responds With Massive Missile Attack - It's A Cycle Of Violence!
* Gaza Palestinians Shake Shaky Ceasefire With Anti-Tank Missile, Rockets At Israeli Schools and Hospitals. Again.
* Bush: Actually, Not So Much With The Peace Process Thing This Year