| Submit your comments on this article |
| Middle East |
| Palestinian Authority Demands U.S. Free Abu Abbas |
| 2003-04-16 |
| The Palestinian Authority demanded the release of veteran Palestinian guerrilla leader Abu Abbas on Wednesday, saying his detention in Iraq by U.S. forces violated an interim Middle East peace deal. "We demand the United States release Abu Abbas. It has no right to imprison him," Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat told Reuters. "The Palestinian-Israeli interim agreement signed on September 28, 1995 stated that members of the Palestine Liberation Organization must not be detained or tried for matters they committed before the Oslo peace accord of September 13, 1993," he said. "This interim agreement was signed on the U.S. side by President Clinton and his secretary of state, Warren Christopher," Erekat added. One, I don't believe that agreement was intended to cover terrorist acts commited outside of Israel. And two, if it does, that we just ship his ass to Italy, I don't recall them signing any such agreement. Oh, and we need to make sure Clinton and Christopher get the credit they so richly deserve. There was no immediate Israeli comment on Abbas' arrest by U.S. special forces. Abbas masterminded the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship in the Mediterranean. Hijack and murder. Never forget, never forgive. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #13 Arafat: We need him Abu Abbas to help us |
| Posted by: KP 2003-04-16 15:31:27 |
| #12 Oslo accords? What part has the PA enforced? We should prosecute him under a military tribunal or send him to Italy. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2003-04-16 11:54:22 |
| #11 I swear I'm sick of this a-hole being referred to as a "guerilla leader" by likes of Reuters et al. This guy is worm chow - nothing more. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-04-16 12:01:32 |
| #10 The Palestinian Authority demanded the release of veteran Palestinian guerrilla leader Abu Abbas on Wednesday, saying his detention in Iraq by U.S. forces violated an interim Middle East peace deal. HAAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAAA!!!!!! Apparently, "violations" are only valid as long as it isn't the Palestinians that are doing the violating. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-04-16 09:57:54 |
| #9 Italy didn't sign it at all, did they? They've already requested extradition. If we've got any problem with prosecuting him, just turn him over to the Italians. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-04-16 09:25:46 |
| #8 Let's release him . . . overboard, strapped to a wheelchair, in Italian waters. |
| Posted by: FormerLiberal 2003-04-16 09:25:08 |
| #7 Was the treaty ratified by the Senate? If not, then Clinton's signature might be about as meaningful as his signature on the ICC. That is, not at all. |
| Posted by: David Hines 2003-04-16 08:52:29 |
| #6 Right on, Frank! But you negelcted to request that the needle be rusty, and dull... |
| Posted by: Ken B 2003-04-16 08:51:42 |
| #5 via Command Post - Lisa Klinghoffer hails Abbas' capture also via Command Post - it appears: "Under the deal, Israel's Supreme Court in 1998 declared Abbas immune from prosecution in Israel over the Achille Lauro hijacking. Abbas had visited the West Bank and Gaza many times in co-ordination with the Americans and the Israelis, Mr Erekat said" (Ed - my bold) We are not bound by Israel's Supreme Court nor should we be bound by treaties the other party hasn't lived up to - I stand by my earlier comments |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-04-16 08:49:31 |
| #4 Since the PA has not lived up to the Oslo accords they should not be in force, regardless of what Clinton signed away. The PA should be shamed loudly and publicly for wanting this bastard freed, and Saeb Erekat exposes himself once again for the terror-abetting piece of crap he has always been. Abbas should die with a needle in his arm and the Klinghoffer family giving him the collective finger |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-04-16 08:32:56 |
| #3 Do I understand correctly (from NPR this morning) that Abbas lived in Israel for a while after the Achille Lauro incident, and also that the US dropped their charges against him? If true, this is really disconcerting, and we have little alternative but to hand him over to Italy who actually followed through and convicted him (to life, thank God!). |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-04-16 08:24:37 |
| #2 Nyaaaaahhhhh....shaddap! |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-04-16 10:43:58 |
| #1 I stole this from Silent Running, it nicely sums up my feelings: An agreement isn't binding when one of the signatories comprehensively breaks it, as I think we can all agree the Palestinians have done. So that's it. No immunity for you! Now duct-tape the bastard to a wheelchair, attach it to the steam catapault on the "Kitty Hawk", and shoot him off in the general direction of oblivion already! Priceless. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-04-16 10:13:39 |