Trying to deflect intense pressure, the Palestinian Authority has handed the United States a detailed written response to allegations that it has not acted against terrorism. The 17-page document says the Palestinians have arrested 195 militants, blocked 56 suspect bank accounts, closed 15 illegal munitions factories and 79 unregistered charities and clamped down on militant mosque preachers. Yasser Arafat's government "remains committed to peacefully negotiating an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories," said the document. "As far as we know, there are no actions and there are no results," said Danny Ayalon, a senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The claims of arrests are especially misleading, he said, because those arrested were "small-fry" who were not on a list of 33 militants the United States and Israel have demanded be arrested.
Wonder how many of those jugged were paid to go? |