http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4245353.stm

- I like this Abbas fellow, I have good vibes from him. I liked the initiative to share the burden of security and patrol with the Israelis. And Sharon's, for once, giving approach, it all sounds like it's going in a rather promising direction. Both sides will need to continue to realise the situation isn't solved, and attacks on both sides will continue to happen.

Nevertheless, a promising start.

This is cool.. but let's see how long it lasts.

Both sides better cool it, I'd hate to see this turn into "x" shoots at "y" and the whole thing spirals down into crap again.

Abbas was a pain in Arrafats side for years.

Hopefully this brings about a lasting change.

/crosses fingers

Fandros

As it has historically been the case, the peace will last only as long as both side can contain and control their respective "fanatics". All it will take is one side or the other to have an incident and then there would be the obligatory reaction, and then it's on again.

In the past there have been cease-fires in place for various holidays and other reasons, but those have been short-lived and often broke out into violence after a short time because of some incident or another.

I realize that the Israelis are not blameless in those situations, but it has been the Palestinians who have traditionally broken the cease-fires and truces in the past. Perhaps the new leader of Palestine can keep a little more control over those who are fighting for his cause and the entire peace process will have a chance to work.

We'll see... but it is encouraging.

Well Hamas said they aren't going to follow the cease fire, so...

If Hamas won't play then it's up to Abbas to outlaw them and hang a few dozen.

Fandros

Abbas just fired a few high level security admins over recent violence, so it seems he's serious about honoring the cease fire. Unfortunately, it takes just one fanatic on either side to fuck things up.