KUWAIT NEWS: BUSH SAYS, "NOW IT'S UP TO ABBAS!"

Sharon made the HUGE move of making Gaza "Judenrein" - exactly like the Arabs wanted. Now the ball is in Abbas's court. According to Bush. And as reported in thre Arab press:

In his weekly radio address, Bush praised Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for what he called "courageous" steps in the withdrawal from Gaza Strip, and said President Abbas must meet the Israeli withdrawal with action against what he called terrorists."Now that Israel has withdrawn, the way forward is clear. The Palestinians must show the world that they will fight terrorism and govern in a peaceful way."We demand an end to terrorism and violence in every form because we know that progress depends on ending terror," Bush said.Fearing that Hamas might take over control over Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal, President Bush again demanded that Palestinians authority provides governance over the strip.

I think this is profound: the whole world is watching the Palestinians, now. The president has put them on notice. And the Arabs are watching too. Will the Palestinians do what they promised to do in ther Roadmap, or will they continue to use genocidal terror to attempt to destroy Israel altogether? We shall see.

I no longer believe a "third way" is possible: a low level "intifada" waged against Irael by terrorists whom the PNA claims they can't control (without starting a civil war) -- which is what we have had up until now. NOW, we have something new: Israel is prepared to unilaterally disengage from the West Bank and to keep all of Jerusalem and will then consider the matter COMPLETELY CLOSED FOREVER. there will be no refugee settlement - ever. And if they're attacked by Gazan Arabs or West Bank Arabs - then Israel will be free to retaliate with a force heretofore UNSEEN, (because up until now the Israelis were legally responsible for the Arabs in the disputed/"occupied" territories).

ANOTHER THING: unless and until the Palestinian Arabs are willing to actually fight the jihadoterrorists - like the Paksitanis, and the Saudis, and the Afghanis, and the Iraqis HAVE BEEN - the Palestinians will have NO STATE, and deserve NO RESPECT.

PITY: if the PNA did take on the jihadoterrorists they'd have the support of the Free World. They are, instead - I am sadly predicting - SQUANDERING their last best chance. Pity.