Gary Fitleberg, December 21, 2004

The Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization (PA/PLO) reportedly asked Iran and Syria to stop terrorism in the disputed territories of Gaza, Judea & Samaria (wrongfully called "West Bank").

The Saudi newspaper Al-Wattan reported that on a visit to Damascus this month, PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas, the frontrunner to succeed Yasser Arafat as PA/PLO "Chairman of Terror" asked that Syria stop Hamas and Islamic Jihad from attacking Israel in the run-up to the Jan. 9 elections.

The concern, according to Al-Wattan, is that large-scale terrorism could draw Israeli retaliation. Iran, which like Syria backs all the Arab "Palestinian" terrorist groups, reportedly received a similar request from Farouk Kaddoumi, chairman of Abbas’ Fatah faction. Arab "Palestinian" officials did not immediately comment.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg