1,000 rifles to Abu Mazen

Palestinian demonstrators storm the Palestinian parliament building during a session in the West Bank city of Ramallah, June 14, 2006. (Loay Abu Haykel/Reuters)

JERUSALEM, June 15 (Reuters)

Israel has transferred nearly 1,000 M-16 rifles to forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as part of moves to bolster the moderate leader against Hamas rivals, an Israeli newspaper reported on Thursday.

Israel's decision to allow shipment of the weapons from Jordan comes amid an increasingly violent power struggle between Abbas and the Islamic militant group, which formed the new Palestinian government in March after winning a parliamentary election.

The mass circulation Yedioth Ahronoth daily, which did not quote any officials, said shipment of about 950 of the American-made M-16s was completed in the past day.

Two trucks escorted by the Israeli army took 400 rifles to the West Bank city of Ramallah, where Abbas has his headquarters, it said. Another 550 guns were escorted to the Gaza Strip, Hamas's stronghold, it added.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday he had approved a shipment of weapons and ammunition to bolster Abbas's security forces.

"I did this because we are running out of time and we need to help Abu Mazen," Olmert had said, referring to Abbas by his nickname.

Palestinian officials and Western diplomats have said Jordan and Egypt would provide weapons, ammunition and training for Abbas's presidential guard.

Western powers want to ensure Abbas emerges victorious in any power struggle with Hamas, which is formally committed to destroying Israel rather than creating a state alongside it.

I think this is absolutely insane. Israel always bends over backwards to make concessions to the enemy in return for naught, but to allow them arms that will -logically, even necessarily- be turned on innocent Israelis at some point. . . it's just unbelievably stupid. But then I don't see a whole lot of difference between Fatah and Hamas.

And can I just say that al Reuters never fails to disappoint? Abu Mazen is not a "nickname." When we call the President, Dubya, that's a nickname. Abu Mazen is a nom de guerre, a pseudonym used in guerre, WAR. Laundering Abu Mazen is a tradition with adherents far beyond just the media, but I still find it completely insulting that al Reuters thinks they can get away with this "nickname" business.

Reuters
3 Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 646-223-4000

Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:52:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Anne Lieberman"
Subject: Abu Mazen
To: editor@reuters.com

To the editor:

Please explain to your writers that "Abu Mazen" is not a "nickname" for Mahmoud Abbas; it is a nom de guerre, a pseudonym used in war. After all, Abbas had to earn his nom de guerre through such heroic activities as funding the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

To refer to "Abu Mazen" as a mere nickname insults both Mr. Abbas and the intelligence of your readers.

Thank you,
Anne Lieberman

NB: More al Reuters at Snapshots.

Comments

[Paul]

I support thr Jewish people.

[Sam]

I view this decision by Israel's government as akin to America's decision to covertly support both Iran and Iraq during their war. In a scenario when a victory by either party means a loss for Israel, the only thing to do is retain the status quo, and make sure neither party becomes too much stronger than the other. I have accepted the fact that there will be NO peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the neighboring arab countries, or islam as a whole. Perhaps this is the government of Israel's way of showing that is what they believe as well.

[Nick]

As time goes by insanity and treachery like Olmerts takes on the tone of normalcy. How many Jews like lemmings follow. The sane going in the other direction feel at times as if they are the insane. I sit here like a fool watching it all with wonderment. I wonder am I insane at being much more than disgusted with idiots like Olmert. I watch numbly hoping that the trend towards insanity will began to reverse, that more leaders will began to see clearly and do justly. I know my hopes will not be fulfilled, I know we are lost if we do not take back the reigns. Will we take back what these traitors like Olmert are stealing, I for one do not believe we will. When things are so lopsided and a person like Olmert is leading. I sit here typing like an idiot trying to explain to myself why we on the bottom continue to put politicians with amoral souls on the top. Why, why, why. Why even type why even care.

[Danu]

I beg to differ, but "Abu Mazen" is not a pseudonym or nom de guerre, it's what's called a 'kunya' or a title in Arab culture. He is not hiding behind the name, like people who use pseudonyms do. Everybody knows who Abu Mazen is, unlike, say the people who revealed American President Nixon's activities.. they used pseudonyms like 'Deep Throat'. A 'kunya' is a title given to an Arab man. For example, the Islamic prophet Muhammad was called 'Abul Qasim' or 'Father of Qasim', after his son Qasim was born to him. I think Abu Mazen means 'father of the one who weighs'.