Sharm conference versus Gaza reality

The Sharm Summit was a big photo op. It was supposed to be a great support for Abbas, but Ehud Olmert stole the show by promising to release 250 Fatah prisoners. As explained by Aluf Benn:

 

Releasing the prisoners would be the most significant gesture that Olmert has made toward the Palestinians since entering office. Most of his other promises, mainly opening border passes and removing roadblocks, faded away due to the escalation in the security situation.

 

However, the number of released prisoners is small compared to previous Israeli gestures to Abbas in the days of Ariel Sharon. The criteria set by Sharon's government excluded Fatah veterans who have been jailed since before the Oslo agreements, or Marwan Barghouti. Therefore it is unlikely that the release would bolster Abbas' status in the West Bank and turn him into a powerful leader.

 

But Olmert scored at least one achievement with his surprising announcement of the release. He managed to even the score with Hamas, to a certain extent, for stealing the show from the Sharm summit by releasing the Shalit cassette a few hours earlier.

But after the summit, someone else stole the show from both Olmert and Abbas. A Fateh Al-Aqsa spokesperson announced that Palestinians need to "adhere to resistance." Abu Fuad said:

 

"the Israeli policies will be frustrated on the rock of the steadfastness of the people, as before. We confirmed that we are putting the issue of the prisoners at the top of our priorities".

....[leaders must] "expose the Israeli position and the barbaric way they are treating the Palestinian people." [He urged the] "the Arab League and the Islamic organizations to take a step forward, act in more responsible way and support the Palestinian people."

Isn't that strange? It helps to explain that Abu Fuad is in Gaza. Hamas is taking over the Fateh organization there, it seems.

 

Ami Isseroff