One Minute to Midnight Dr. Irving Moskowitz PLO VIOLATIONS: WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN In late October, the Israeli Government issued its first official report on PLO violations of the Oslo accords. The document (which was reprinted in the November issue of Outpost) revealed tht the PLO has consistently committed egregious violations. These were not just incidental infractions of minor aspects of the accords. They were wanton, flagrant violations of the most important parts of the accords. And they have been committed constantly throughout the more than three years since the White House handshake. According to the report, the PLO has "refused to disarm" terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The PLO "has not extradited any of the 19 terror suspects whom Israel has sought"; it has not changed the PLO Covenant; it has "drafted wanted terrorists to serve in the PLO security forces"; it has "utilized arbitrary arrests, detention, and torture" against Arab dissidents (the accords require the PLO to respect "human rights and the rule of law"); and more. Now a second Israeli Government report has been released, this one detailing "Incitement to Violence

Against Israel by Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat." This report consists of quotations from many of Arafat's recent anti-Israel speeches, a direct violation of Oslo I (in which Arafat is required to make speeches urging Arabs to refrain from "terrorism and violence") and Oslo II (which prohibits the PLO from engaging in "hostile propaganda" against Israel). In his speeches, Arafat has, among other things, declared "We know only one word: jihad, jihad, jihad" (Oct.21, 1996)..."They will fight for Allah, and they will kill and be killed, and this is a solemn oath; Palestine is our land and Jerusalem is our capital" (Sept. 24, 1996)..."We are committed to all martyrs who died for the cause of Jerusalem starting with Ahmed Musa until the last martyr, Yihye Ayyash" (July 27, 1996)..."The struggle will continue until all of Palestine is liberated" (Nov. 11, 1995). The Israeli government acted wisely in exposing these PLO violations. Now it must follow them to their logical conclusion. The violations strike at the very premise upon which Oslo was built. The heart and soul of any peace agreement is that both sides fufill their obligations. If only one side observes the agreement, then the agreement is worthless. Three years of constant PLO violations and speeches inciting violence demonstrate that the PLO cannot be trusted to keep the Oslo accords, and that Arafat has therefore rendered the accords worthless. By what logic should the Israeli government act as if it is obliged to implement further aspects of the accords, if the PLO does not keep its side of the bargain?

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Outpost               - 12 -               December 1996