Eight weeks after the Palestinian Authority supposedly undertook a major anti-terrorist operation in Jenin and other cities, Israeli forces continue to capture terrorists, weapons and bomb-making equipment there. It seems as if the P.A.’s efforts weren’t quite as extensive as the international news media portrayed them to be.

What Happened?

Over the past two months, The New York Times has repeatedly claimed that the P.A. was in the midst of “cracking down” on the terrorists when Israel suddenly—and for no apparent reason—sent its forces into the same area. Other major media outlets have circulated similar reports.

It’s interesting that the Times and other media have never done a follow-up story on what happened to the terrorists whom the P.A. supposedly arrested. After all, the authority has a long history of “revolving-door justice” in which terrorists are arrested in front of television cameras … and then quietly released. But when it comes to the P.A., history seems to be conveniently forgotten.

What makes the reporting about the P.A.’s alleged “crackdown,” especially interesting is what has not been reported: Its peace treaty with the terrorists. On Jan. 18, The Jerusalem Post and other Israeli media reported that the P.A. announced it had concluded a peace agreement with the terrorist forces in Jenin, which allowed them to continue operating in the city. For some reason, that part of the story never made it into the Times.

It was only when the P.A. made peace with the terrorists that the Israelis were forced to wage war on them. On Jan. 21, three days after the Jenin peace deal, Israeli forces entered that city in pursuit of the terrorists.

The fact that the Israelis are still capturing terrorists there two months later exposes the truth: The P.A.’s so-called anti-terror operation was a fraud.

Israeli security forces recently uncovered large quantities of combat equipment and bomb-making materials in the P.A.-governed village of Qabatiya, near Jenin, and captured 12 terrorists there.

One of those arrested was Liwaa Jaaz, one of the top terrorists in Jenin. The Israelis also found two vehicles that were “loaded with weapons.” Is it possible that the P.A. security forces were unable to find Jaaz or his cars full of weapons? Not a chance.

We’re also learning more about previous Israeli anti-terror operations—details that couldn’t be released earlier for security reasons. For example, the army discovered a 220-pound bomb that terrorists were preparing—enough to knock out a tank. Is it conceivable that the P.A. security forces had no idea what these bomb makers were up to? Again, not a chance.

It could have rooted out the terrorists long ago if it wanted to. It just doesn’t want to. It regards them as its brothers in arms, not enemies.