Cynical Nation

...but Israel's winning its war against terror as well.

IDF: Significant decline in 2004 terror

The number of terror attacks and terror fatalities dropped significantly in 2004, when only six suicide bombings were carried out within Israel and eight in the territories, an IDF Intelligence Branch official informed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday.

According to the official, a total of 116 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets in 2004, with 55 of them killed in suicide attacks. A total of 73 civilians and 43 security personnel were killed.

The suicide attack fatality figure is a 60 percent decline compared with 2003. In addition, the number of attempted suicide bombings has declined by 50 percent. In the six suicide attacks in Israel, 51 were killed, and another four at the Erez checkpoint in the territories.

On a related note, this also seems encouraging.

Poll shows nearly 60% of Palestinians support Abu Mazen call to end Intifada militarization

In a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), results showed that over half of the participants support PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen)'s call among Palestinians to put an end to the militarization of the Intifada.

It should be abundantly clear to everyone now that Arafat was never anything other than an obstacle to peace in the Mideast.

Of course that should have been clear to everyone years ago.