ROCKETS IN THEIR CAR AND FREED AT ONCE

This is an extract from a report by Reuters

'May 3, 7:25 AM (ET)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian police, enforcing a ceasefire with Israel, arrested two men from a suspected Hamas rocket squad after a gun battle in the Gaza Strip but freed the militants soon after, officials said on Tuesday.
Commenting on the release, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation could succeed only if the Palestinian Authority mounted a "continuous, ongoing effort against the terrorists."
"If we start seeing a revolving door, as we saw in the past ... this would not be a good sign," Regev said, alluding to Israeli complaints that Palestinian authorities under the late Yasser Arafat released suspected militants too quickly.'

The essential point of this story is contained here:

'Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman Toufiq Abu Khoussa said the men were let go on Tuesday following intervention by an Egyptian official in Gaza.
In return for their freedom, the two militants, promised to abide by an agreement that militant factions reached with Abbas in Cairo in March to respect the ceasefire the Palestinian leader declared along with Sharon in February, Abu Khoussa said.
GUNFIGHT
Describing the clash, Abu Khoussa said, a third militant had escaped arrest: "The three were in a car, en route to fire rockets, when police waved for them to stop. Gunmen opened fire at the police, forcing policemen to fire back.
"Policemen controlled the situation, took away the car, arrested the gunmen and took away their arms," he said, adding that the third man ran away and avoided the police'.

It is quite clear that the overall strategy which Sharon is not only going along with but in fact promoting is this:

1. Abbas promises peace but the Islamist Hamas et al will possibly play along (up to a point)
2. Until the Gaza is Judenfrei. Then they will use the Gaza to let all hell loose onto Israel

The issue of Egypt intervening to release these guys is very significant for what will come after the withdrawal.

Joseph Alexander Norland of Israpundit had this to say:

'Palestinian Police Release Hamas Member
Palestinian police released a member of a Hamas rocket squad on Tuesday, a day after he was detained, despite a pledge by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to get tough with those violating a truce with Israel.
The suspect shot at Palestinian officers shortly before his arrest Monday night, and a rocket launcher was found in his car. Even so, Egypt joined the militant group in pressuring Palestinian officials to free him.
Points to note:
1. Bush/Frist are all eager to hand over parts of the Land of Israel to the terrorists, but I have yet to hear either of them comment on this new violation of the Roadmap requirement to crack down on the terrorists' infrastructure.
2. Nor did Sharon show any signs of modifying the Deportation Plot, or, for that matter, the way he is co-ordinating the Deportation Plot with the PLO.
3. Nor have I heard the US follow-up on the murder of their two officials on 15 Oct 2003.
4. Egypt, the country to whom Sharon is entrusting the Philadelphi sector, joined in the pressure to release the terrorists.
5. Given these facts, why should Arafat II detain Hamas terrorists?'