Muhammad Dahlan, an Abbas ally who is the former chief of security in Gaza and a powerful figure in the new leadership, welcomed Israel's announcement.

"It's an encouraging measure that should facilitate the conclusion of a cease-fire agreement," he said. The Israeli defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, is to meet Mr. Dahlan on Sunday to coordinate security efforts and to discuss handing over responsibility to the Palestinians in some of the cities of the West Bank. It would be the first meeting at ministerial level for nearly two years.

"I have known Dahlan for 15 years," Mr. Mofaz said in London. "There is chemistry between us."

I'm glad they have chemistry. (And I can't fault the NY Times for not writing more about Dahlan's background if he's getting this kind of testimonial from the Israeli government.) But there's a dark side to Dahlan's background:

The two terrorists to be pardoned have far-ranging terrorist experience. Israel possesses a tape of Abu Shabak discussing plans for the bombing of the school bus with the mastermind of the attack, Preventative Security Service chief Mohammad Dahlan. Abu Shabak also oversaw and coordinated the preparation of the bomb used in the attack.

The attack on the school bus killed two Israeli teachers and seriously wounded three young children from the Cohen family of nearby Kfar Darom; all three children lost part of their legs.

As early as April 1997, Abu Shabak sent suicide bombers to target two school buses outside the Netzarim and Kfar Darom communities. Former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak identified the actual bombers as police officers under the direct command of Dahlan and Abu Shabak.

One month before the Kfar Darom school bus attack, a busload of 40 Israeli women and children was also attacked by terrorists near the Gush Katif junction in Gaza, just as it passed by a PA police station. Israeli intelligence concluded that Dahlan and Abu Shabak were behind that attack as well.

The main chemistry that Dahlan appears to be familiar with is mixing them to create explosives. It's one thing for Israel to forgive terrorists from before 1993. I don't agree with it and think it's wrong. But there's at least a presumption that something changed after Oslo was signed. But for terrorists who engaged in terror after 1993, there should be no forgiveness. If Israel has no red lines for terrorists who took advantage of Israel's generosity there will never be peace. There will only be more and more demands.
IMRA also pointed to an unfortunate statement in this article:

"Sharon needs steps by the Palestinian Authority to convince Israelis that the settlers are wrong," the official said. "Everyone here wants this quiet to continue and is encouraged by Abbas, and doesn't want it ruined by the settlers. Sharon sees the right wing against him, but a countertrend from the street would help him."

The settlers are the problem? Please. The settlers are saying let's have another referendum. The government allows known terrorists to get off scott free. Who's undermining peace?
This is not far from what PM Sharon inexcusably said two months ago:

By doing this, you have opponents threatening not only your political career but your life.

I don't worry about my life. Arabs always wanted to act [against me] but now the Jews are doing this. So for me, it is a strange situation. As one who has defended Jews all his life, I now have to be secured against Jews. But I am fully committed to the plan.

But now he's excusing those who killed Miriam Amitai and Gavriel Biton. Who's standing up for them? What will he tell their 10 children? If you want to make peace. Make peace. I have no business telling the Prime Minister of Israel how do his job in that respect. But when he is pardoning murderers and blaming his problems on those who elected him that is just plain wrong. It isn't about making peace; it's about making excuses.
PM Sharon should be telling Abbas, look you need to do more. And how does the PM jibe his pardons with this?

Israeli officials also urge caution, saying Mr. Sharon will insist that Mr. Abbas move to dismantle Hamas and Islamic Jihad, confiscate their weapons and destroy their rocket factories before any move toward political negotiations. Mr. Abbas wants to co-opt the militants, not fight them. So the current optimism may founder.

Yes of course, Abbas must face down the bad guys. (Of course he'll say he's doing it when he "co-opts" them.) But if Sharon is excusing the bad guys himself what force will his demand have? Abbas will simply tell him, forgive him like you forgave Tawfiq Tirawi (who led the jihad against real estate agents) and Abu Shabak. This is not a tenable negotiating position.
"The current optimism may founder?" Why? Because Abbas will be required to take significant actions against terror? So the only optimistic scenario we have is when Israel is willing to forgive outrages?
I've always thought that PM Sharon's greatest quality was not as a warrior but frankly, as a uniter. He demonstrated this in building the Likud party. He demonstrated it again in 1996 when he rallied Chareidi support behind Netanyahu. I believe that he has always been strong in this regard. It's why he was able to survive the political wilderness for 20 years. But now he's throwing away all his credentials as a uniter. He is dividing his own people to give legitimacy to murderers. This is what I find so disturbing about his turnaround. Not that he wants to make peace. All Israeli PM's since 1993 have done all they could to make peace. But that he's dividing his own people. That's what is so disturbing about his actions.
Crossposted on Israpundit and Soccer Dad.