British Prime Minister Tony Blair is an enthusiastic supporter of the Palestinians. Moreover, in order to repel the criticism aired against him from within his own party ranks about his too cozy relationship with US President George Bush, he wants to pay a heavy price, at Israel’s expense.

Not only that, Blair is the person who is urging the American president to be forthcoming with the Palestinians and to act assiduously for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Abu Mazen emerged from the London conference with many assets in hand. He was “painted” a rosy hue for the consumption of British and European public opinion, and he also received far-reaching promises to rehabilitate the Palestinian Authority.

Abu Mazen, in practice, has not been obliged to do anything tangible and thorough against the terror organization. For Tony Blair and his comrades, it is enough that Abu Mazen air statements in condemnation of terrorism and make promises that he will do everything in his power to combat terrorism.

Meanwhile, thousands of armed men roam the streets of Gaza and Judea and Samaria, without anyone from the Palestinian Authority bothering to take their illegal weapons away from them; meanwhile, Kassam rockets and mortar shells are still being manufactured in residential areas, and weapons are still being smuggled to the various terror organizations via Egypt.

Abu Mazen knows this and, according to intelligence officials, has done nothing to damage the terrorist infrastructure.

Dozens of terror cells are currently mobilizing in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, guided by Hizbullah and financed by Iran. Abu Mazen is aware of this reality, but his people prefer to trade in words and to refrain from taking action.

The green light that Israel has given Abu Mazen is already costing it dearly, and it is making a mistake by refraining from publicly criticizing him for not combating terrorism and not rooting it out.

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