These people are not interested in peace

This is one story about the Palestinians:

Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip are watching the news regarding Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's deteriorating health carefully, and will celebrate with Qassam rocket firings at Jewish towns if Sharon dies, terror leaders told WorldNetDaily. One terrorist leader threatened the life of Sharon's temporary replacement, Deputy Minister Ehud Olmert, who was installed as prime minister just hours ago. "I am ready with my candies and my rockets and praying to Allah that Sharon dies. We have prepared a celebratory barrage of rockets ready to fire into Israel on the occasion of the death of our enemy," said Abu Abir, spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella group of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists responsible for firing hundreds of Qassam rockets and mortars at Jewish towns. Hamas leader Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar told WND Sharon's condition "plunges the Israeli political scene into chaos, which could bring about an equal response from the Palestinians." *** Celebrations reportedly are underway in the Gaza Strip, with families distributing sweets and gunmen shooting into the air. "I personally am waiting to celebrate. I have my fingers crossed," Abu Abir said. "Sharon was one of our biggest enemies." Abu Abir told WND now that Olmert is serving as prime minister "he is moved up on our list of targets. We will target Olmert with a lot of might." Al-Zahar said he is hoping Sharon survives. "Sharon's new party Kadima was good for us. They made clear in no uncertain terms that part of their platform was more withdrawals from the West Bank and from Jerusalem. His passing from the political scene now places all of that in jeopardy. We don't know what the policies of Olmert are. Whether he supports giving us the West Bank and Jerusalem."

This is another story about the Palestinians:

While Israel is in the midst of coming to terms with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's medical condition, the Palestinians are dealing with their own internal issues – mainly the upcoming PA elections in three weeks. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas renewed their finger pointing Thursday, with Hamas slamming PA Interior Minister Nasser Yousef's announcement that Palestinian security forces would not secure Elections Day. Yousef said he fears a bloodbath on the day and explained that his men could not protect the voting stations. [Emphasis mine.]

In light of these stories -- and contrary to all the talking heads bemoaning Sharon's imminent death because "he's the only one who can achieve peace with the Palestinians" -- it makes no difference to the peace process whether Sharon lives or dies. The Palestinians, after having mired themselves in hate and violence for 60 years, have no interest in peace, whether on their own turf or in the country they seek to destroy.