Sharon and Israeli PoliticsIsrael and Palestine
Two leaders dominate this discussion -- Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon -- even while the US and Israel try to promote Abu mazen.
There is little need to document the shortcomings of Yasser Arafat -- they are covered every day in the American press.
... But what about the other partner in the peace? What kind of man is Ariel Sharon? What's his history? What's the mentality and political picture in Israel under his leadership?
Friday, October 31, 2003
Vandals deface Tel Aviv monument to assassinated PM Rabin: paint with Swastikas
Haaretz Article: "Vandals deface Tel Aviv monument to assassinated PM Rabin | By Haaretz Service
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon expressed shock Friday over the vandalism of a Tel Aviv monument to slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. [He was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli radical, hastening the end to the Oslo peace process. ed.]
...
Vandals painted swastikas early Friday on the memorial at the site of Rabin's 1995 murder,
The banner on the stage erected ahead of Saturday's event was also vandalized, with the words "Kahane was right" painted on it - a reference to the extreme-right Kach movement leader Rabbi Meir Kahane.
...
Graffiti targeting Rabin and his late wife, Leah, was also painted on the Sha'ar Hagay overpass near Jerusalem, Israel Radio reported.
In Herzliya, the words "Kahane was right" were also daubed on a wall in a public park near the home of Rabin's assassin Yigal Amir, the radio said.
Further graffiti was found on Dizengoff Street in central Tel Aviv and on buildings in Ramat Aviv, Holon and Bnei Brak, Army Radio said.
Haaretz Article: "Vandals deface Tel Aviv monument to assassinated PM Rabin | By Haaretz Service
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon expressed shock Friday over the vandalism of a Tel Aviv monument to slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. [He was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli radical, hastening the end to the Oslo peace process. ed.]
...
Vandals painted swastikas early Friday on the memorial at the site of Rabin's 1995 murder,
The banner on the stage erected ahead of Saturday's event was also vandalized, with the words "Kahane was right" painted on it - a reference to the extreme-right Kach movement leader Rabbi Meir Kahane.
...
Graffiti targeting Rabin and his late wife, Leah, was also painted on the Sha'ar Hagay overpass near Jerusalem, Israel Radio reported.
In Herzliya, the words "Kahane was right" were also daubed on a wall in a public park near the home of Rabin's assassin Yigal Amir, the radio said.
Further graffiti was found on Dizengoff Street in central Tel Aviv and on buildings in Ramat Aviv, Holon and Bnei Brak, Army Radio said.
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Sharon, Army at Odds Over Palestinians: tough policies are increasing Palestinian hatred toward Israel
Excite News: "Sharon, Army at Odds Over Palestinians | Oct 30, 5:04 PM (ET) | By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's tough restrictions on Palestinians have led to a rare public rift between the army and the government, with the nation's top military leader warning current policies will lead only to more violence.
The split, played out in Israeli newspapers over the past two days, highlights leaders' increasing frustration over their inability to end continuing attacks by Palestinian militant groups more than three years after the current violence began.
The measures, which have prevented Palestinians from reaching jobs, visiting family and tending their fields, have made them increasingly bitter. "Closures, sieges and assassinations are adding to the complexities and widening the cycle of violence and counter-violence," Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said.
The dispute in Israel was set off by Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, the army chief of staff, who argued the tough policies are increasing Palestinian hatred toward Israel and fostering sympathy for the very militant groups Israel is trying to destroy.
Excite News: "Sharon, Army at Odds Over Palestinians | Oct 30, 5:04 PM (ET) | By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's tough restrictions on Palestinians have led to a rare public rift between the army and the government, with the nation's top military leader warning current policies will lead only to more violence.
The split, played out in Israeli newspapers over the past two days, highlights leaders' increasing frustration over their inability to end continuing attacks by Palestinian militant groups more than three years after the current violence began.
The measures, which have prevented Palestinians from reaching jobs, visiting family and tending their fields, have made them increasingly bitter. "Closures, sieges and assassinations are adding to the complexities and widening the cycle of violence and counter-violence," Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said.
The dispute in Israel was set off by Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, the army chief of staff, who argued the tough policies are increasing Palestinian hatred toward Israel and fostering sympathy for the very militant groups Israel is trying to destroy.
Sharon, Army at Odds Over Palestinians: tough policies are increasing Palestinian hatred toward Israel
Excite News: "Sharon, Army at Odds Over Palestinians | Oct 30, 5:04 PM (ET) | By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's tough restrictions on Palestinians have led to a rare public rift between the army and the government, with the nation's top military leader warning current policies will lead only to more violence.
The split, played out in Israeli newspapers over the past two days, highlights leaders' increasing frustration over their inability to end continuing attacks by Palestinian militant groups more than three years after the current violence began.
The measures, which have prevented Palestinians from reaching jobs, visiting family and tending their fields, have made them increasingly bitter. "Closures, sieges and assassinations are adding to the complexities and widening the cycle of violence and counter-violence," Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said.
The dispute in Israel was set off by Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, the army chief of staff, who argued the tough policies are increasing Palestinian hatred toward Israel and fostering sympathy for the very militant groups Israel is trying to destroy.
Excite News: "Sharon, Army at Odds Over Palestinians | Oct 30, 5:04 PM (ET) | By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's tough restrictions on Palestinians have led to a rare public rift between the army and the government, with the nation's top military leader warning current policies will lead only to more violence.
The split, played out in Israeli newspapers over the past two days, highlights leaders' increasing frustration over their inability to end continuing attacks by Palestinian militant groups more than three years after the current violence began.
The measures, which have prevented Palestinians from reaching jobs, visiting family and tending their fields, have made them increasingly bitter. "Closures, sieges and assassinations are adding to the complexities and widening the cycle of violence and counter-violence," Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said.
The dispute in Israel was set off by Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, the army chief of staff, who argued the tough policies are increasing Palestinian hatred toward Israel and fostering sympathy for the very militant groups Israel is trying to destroy.
Oh what a stupid war
Oh what a stupid war: "Oh what a stupid war | By Aluf Benn | Thursday, October 30, 2003
The declaration of diplomatic war against the Geneva understandings is one of the more stupid undertakings of the Sharon government. Not only is it giving free publicity to Yossi Beilin and political authority to a virtual agreement he
worked out with his Palestinian friends, it also exposes the paucity of initiative on the part of the government. Once again, it brings back memories of the days of Yitzhak Shamir when there was a law prohibiting meetings with PLO officials. Ariel Sharon marketed himself as a moderate leader, preaching 'painful concessions,' but his government is operating according to its right flank: building fences and settlements, along with empty mumblings about a political arrangement sometime in the future. "
Oh what a stupid war: "Oh what a stupid war | By Aluf Benn | Thursday, October 30, 2003
The declaration of diplomatic war against the Geneva understandings is one of the more stupid undertakings of the Sharon government. Not only is it giving free publicity to Yossi Beilin and political authority to a virtual agreement he
worked out with his Palestinian friends, it also exposes the paucity of initiative on the part of the government. Once again, it brings back memories of the days of Yitzhak Shamir when there was a law prohibiting meetings with PLO officials. Ariel Sharon marketed himself as a moderate leader, preaching 'painful concessions,' but his government is operating according to its right flank: building fences and settlements, along with empty mumblings about a political arrangement sometime in the future. "
Sharon furious over Ya alon statements against conditions in the territories
PM furious over Ya alon statements against gov t: "By Amos Harel and Aluf Benn | Thursday, October 30, 2003
Despite fury in the Prime Minister's Office over Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon's remarks made to the press Tuesday night about government policy toward Palestinians in the territories, the chief of staff does not intend to retract his remarks.
In a 15-minute meeting yesterday afternoon with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Ya'alon stuck to his position
that he did not criticize the government, but rather tried to present the essence of the dispute in the defense
establishment about easing conditions in the territories. "
PM furious over Ya alon statements against gov t: "By Amos Harel and Aluf Benn | Thursday, October 30, 2003
Despite fury in the Prime Minister's Office over Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon's remarks made to the press Tuesday night about government policy toward Palestinians in the territories, the chief of staff does not intend to retract his remarks.
In a 15-minute meeting yesterday afternoon with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Ya'alon stuck to his position
that he did not criticize the government, but rather tried to present the essence of the dispute in the defense
establishment about easing conditions in the territories. "
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Rabbis back Israeli 'guard pigs'
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Rabbis back Israeli 'guard pigs': "Tuesday, 28 October, 2003
Under Jewish law, pigs are seen as unclean. An organisation in Israel has gained rabbinical approval to train pigs to guard Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
...
The man in charge, Kuti Ben-Yaakov, insists it is a serious proposal. ... "Moreover, this animal is considered to be dangerous by Islam and, according to the Muslim faith, a terrorist who touches a pig is not eligible for the 70 virgins in heaven."
...
"It's clear that in a case like this, the ban that was imposed on raising pigs in the Land of Israel doesn't apply," said Daniel Shilo of the Yesha Rabbinical Council. ... "Spare us from this nonsense," one settler spokesman told the BBC. "It will never happen."
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Rabbis back Israeli 'guard pigs': "Tuesday, 28 October, 2003
Under Jewish law, pigs are seen as unclean. An organisation in Israel has gained rabbinical approval to train pigs to guard Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
...
The man in charge, Kuti Ben-Yaakov, insists it is a serious proposal. ... "Moreover, this animal is considered to be dangerous by Islam and, according to the Muslim faith, a terrorist who touches a pig is not eligible for the 70 virgins in heaven."
...
"It's clear that in a case like this, the ban that was imposed on raising pigs in the Land of Israel doesn't apply," said Daniel Shilo of the Yesha Rabbinical Council. ... "Spare us from this nonsense," one settler spokesman told the BBC. "It will never happen."
Friday, October 24, 2003
Probable Bomb explodes under Car of Arab member of Israel's parliament
Excite - News: "Israeli Arab Deputy Fears Bomb Planted Under Car | Oct 24, 7:46 am ET
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Arab member of Israel's parliament said on Friday he feared a bomb had been planted under his car after an explosion set it ablaze. Issam Makhoul, a member of Israel's Knesset (parliament), representing the left-wing Arab-Jewish Hadash party, said the explosion occurred as his wife started the car in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa. No one was hurt."
Excite - News: "Israeli Arab Deputy Fears Bomb Planted Under Car | Oct 24, 7:46 am ET
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Arab member of Israel's parliament said on Friday he feared a bomb had been planted under his car after an explosion set it ablaze. Issam Makhoul, a member of Israel's Knesset (parliament), representing the left-wing Arab-Jewish Hadash party, said the explosion occurred as his wife started the car in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa. No one was hurt."
Arab Legislator's car bombed in Israel
Excite News: "Car of Legislator in Israel Attacked | Oct 24, 7:31 AM (ET)
JERUSALEM (AP) - An explosion went off Friday in a car belonging to an Arab member of Israel's parliament, police said. No one was injured.
The blast went off as the lawmaker's wife started the car Friday morning in the port city of Haifa, police said.
The legislator, Issam Makhoul, from the Hadash party, was not in the car at the time."
Excite News: "Car of Legislator in Israel Attacked | Oct 24, 7:31 AM (ET)
JERUSALEM (AP) - An explosion went off Friday in a car belonging to an Arab member of Israel's parliament, police said. No one was injured.
The blast went off as the lawmaker's wife started the car Friday morning in the port city of Haifa, police said.
The legislator, Issam Makhoul, from the Hadash party, was not in the car at the time."
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Peres accuses Sharon of being insincere in his peacemaking efforts
Israeli missiles kill 10 in Gaza; 100 wounded | BY IBRAHIM BARZAK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003: "
In a speech to parliament Monday, Sharon called Arafat 'the greatest obstacle to peace.' Therefore, he added, 'Israel is determined to bring about his removal from the political arena,' referring to a Cabinet decision last month. In a newspaper interview last week, Sharon had indicated that he had no plan to expel Arafat — an apparent softening of Israel’s position.
Sharon’s criticism of Arafat was greeted with catcalls and prompted several Arab legislators to walk out of the chamber. The speech also received a harsh response from Shimon Peres, leader of the opposition Labor Party, who accused Sharon of being insincere in his peacemaking efforts. 'Prime minister, you have missed the opportunity,' Peres said. 'We are dealing with a nation that is fighting for its freedom, and don’t take them lightly,' said Peres, who shared the 1994 Nobel peace prize, of the Palestinians.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, called Sharon’s address a 'speech of continuing the use of the most disproportionate use of force against Palestinians and a speech that was determined to undermine hope, peace, and reconciliation.'
...
In another report ... At the parliament debate, Israeli Labour leader Shimon Peres said Sharon had missed the chance to seal peace with the Palestinians.
"You missed the opportunity, and I'm very much afraid that there will be no chance for you to put this right.
"You missed all the trains. You have a government which allows you to talk but not to act," the Nobe Peace winner said.
Israeli missiles kill 10 in Gaza; 100 wounded | BY IBRAHIM BARZAK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003: "
In a speech to parliament Monday, Sharon called Arafat 'the greatest obstacle to peace.' Therefore, he added, 'Israel is determined to bring about his removal from the political arena,' referring to a Cabinet decision last month. In a newspaper interview last week, Sharon had indicated that he had no plan to expel Arafat — an apparent softening of Israel’s position.
Sharon’s criticism of Arafat was greeted with catcalls and prompted several Arab legislators to walk out of the chamber. The speech also received a harsh response from Shimon Peres, leader of the opposition Labor Party, who accused Sharon of being insincere in his peacemaking efforts. 'Prime minister, you have missed the opportunity,' Peres said. 'We are dealing with a nation that is fighting for its freedom, and don’t take them lightly,' said Peres, who shared the 1994 Nobel peace prize, of the Palestinians.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, called Sharon’s address a 'speech of continuing the use of the most disproportionate use of force against Palestinians and a speech that was determined to undermine hope, peace, and reconciliation.'
...
In another report ... At the parliament debate, Israeli Labour leader Shimon Peres said Sharon had missed the chance to seal peace with the Palestinians.
"You missed the opportunity, and I'm very much afraid that there will be no chance for you to put this right.
"You missed all the trains. You have a government which allows you to talk but not to act," the Nobe Peace winner said.
Friday, October 17, 2003
Sharon makes it clear he will not back down on matters of security
Daily Herald: "Sharon makes it clear he will not back down on matters of security | Daily Herald Reports | Cal Thomas | Posted 10/17/03
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he has no intention of dismantling the security fence he is building to protect Jewish neighborhoods from Palestinian terrorists. Neither, he said, will there be a Palestinian state unless five specific conditions are met.
...
For him even to consider agreeing to the establishment of a Palestinian state contiguous to Israel, he said, the Palestinian side must meet five conditions: "(1) dismantle the terror organizations such as Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and Hamas, and make a 100 percent effort to end terrorism; (2) collect its weapons and hand them to a third party, preferably the United States, which will destroy them; (3) arrest, interrogate and punish terrorists, their supporters, their commanders (who are implicated in murder); (4) take all necessary diplomatic steps and stop incitement; and (5) at least start to teach peace (to children).
...
... To emphasize his point, he handed me a sheet of paper that listed the number of Israelis killed by terrorists in the last two years and a comparative ratio to how many would have died in Russia, the European Union and the United States. As of Oct. 11, 884 Israelis had been murdered and 5,956 injured. Israel has a population of 5 million. In Russia, the comparable murder rate would be 25,636; in the European Union, 67,184, and in the United States, 49,150. His point is that no other country would put up with such attacks on its own citizens as Israel has been repeatedly pressured to do.
[Cal Thomas aplogizes because he did reprint Sharon's numbers without challenge but he was in a hurry Thursday so did not have the time to calculate the equivalent number for Palestinians. Israel has a population of 6.5 million, of which 1.2 million of Arab so Sharon somehow overlooked them. There are approximately 3.5 million Palestinians in the occupied territories so the Palestinian equivalent dead would be 211,699. Cal was not surprised to learn that Palestinians are more than 4 times as likely to be dead--he just forgot to mention it. Now to the injured. The 5,956 Israeli injuries would be equivalent to 331,151 in the United States--a terrible number. Of course the injured Palestinians amount to more than 23,500 injury, equivalent to 1,879,458 in the US! Almost 2 million! Wow Cal, Palestinians are 6 times as likely to be injured! ... and 9,000 Palestinians were injured before the first suicide bomber ... and Palestinians are expected to put up with such attacks by Sharon.]
Daily Herald: "Sharon makes it clear he will not back down on matters of security | Daily Herald Reports | Cal Thomas | Posted 10/17/03
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he has no intention of dismantling the security fence he is building to protect Jewish neighborhoods from Palestinian terrorists. Neither, he said, will there be a Palestinian state unless five specific conditions are met.
...
For him even to consider agreeing to the establishment of a Palestinian state contiguous to Israel, he said, the Palestinian side must meet five conditions: "(1) dismantle the terror organizations such as Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and Hamas, and make a 100 percent effort to end terrorism; (2) collect its weapons and hand them to a third party, preferably the United States, which will destroy them; (3) arrest, interrogate and punish terrorists, their supporters, their commanders (who are implicated in murder); (4) take all necessary diplomatic steps and stop incitement; and (5) at least start to teach peace (to children).
...
... To emphasize his point, he handed me a sheet of paper that listed the number of Israelis killed by terrorists in the last two years and a comparative ratio to how many would have died in Russia, the European Union and the United States. As of Oct. 11, 884 Israelis had been murdered and 5,956 injured. Israel has a population of 5 million. In Russia, the comparable murder rate would be 25,636; in the European Union, 67,184, and in the United States, 49,150. His point is that no other country would put up with such attacks on its own citizens as Israel has been repeatedly pressured to do.
[Cal Thomas aplogizes because he did reprint Sharon's numbers without challenge but he was in a hurry Thursday so did not have the time to calculate the equivalent number for Palestinians. Israel has a population of 6.5 million, of which 1.2 million of Arab so Sharon somehow overlooked them. There are approximately 3.5 million Palestinians in the occupied territories so the Palestinian equivalent dead would be 211,699. Cal was not surprised to learn that Palestinians are more than 4 times as likely to be dead--he just forgot to mention it. Now to the injured. The 5,956 Israeli injuries would be equivalent to 331,151 in the United States--a terrible number. Of course the injured Palestinians amount to more than 23,500 injury, equivalent to 1,879,458 in the US! Almost 2 million! Wow Cal, Palestinians are 6 times as likely to be injured! ... and 9,000 Palestinians were injured before the first suicide bomber ... and Palestinians are expected to put up with such attacks by Sharon.]
Qibya and Sharon, 50 Years after the massacre
Eric Ridenour: Qibya and Sharon, 50 Years Later: "October 14, 2003 Anniversary of a Massacre | By ERIC RIDENOUR
October 14, 2003 marks the fifty year anniversary of a virtually forgotten massacre. In the Jordanian village of Qibya, a total of 69 civilians were murdered in a six hour killing spree, which almost totally destroyed the town. The attackers blew up about forty houses, a school, water pumping station, police station and telephone office (1) and they sustained no casualties, as Qibya was virtually undefended.
Of the first 42 bodies recovered after the attack, 38 were women and children.(2) One man lost all 11 members of his family. Describing the scene, a UN observer stated that 'Bullet-riddled bodies near the doorways and multiple bullet hits on the doors of the demolished houses indicated that the inhabitants had been forced to remain inside until their homes were blown up over them.'(1)
Condemnation was swift. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 101, specifically condemning the attack on Qibya. On Oct 16th, the US State Department issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims and urging that the persons responsible 'should be brought to account.' The National Jewish Post, in an October 30th editorial wrote that 'Qibya was in effect another Lidice and no United States person who was living at the time of this detestable Nazi wiping out of an entire village will forget the world's horror at that act.'(3)
The world has known for decades who was responsible for the killing in Qibya, yet not only has no legal action been taken against him for this, but he is rarely even criticized for it. The person I'm referring to is the current Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon. In 1953, the 25 year old Sharon was the head of an Israeli special forces group called"
Eric Ridenour: Qibya and Sharon, 50 Years Later: "October 14, 2003 Anniversary of a Massacre | By ERIC RIDENOUR
October 14, 2003 marks the fifty year anniversary of a virtually forgotten massacre. In the Jordanian village of Qibya, a total of 69 civilians were murdered in a six hour killing spree, which almost totally destroyed the town. The attackers blew up about forty houses, a school, water pumping station, police station and telephone office (1) and they sustained no casualties, as Qibya was virtually undefended.
Of the first 42 bodies recovered after the attack, 38 were women and children.(2) One man lost all 11 members of his family. Describing the scene, a UN observer stated that 'Bullet-riddled bodies near the doorways and multiple bullet hits on the doors of the demolished houses indicated that the inhabitants had been forced to remain inside until their homes were blown up over them.'(1)
Condemnation was swift. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 101, specifically condemning the attack on Qibya. On Oct 16th, the US State Department issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims and urging that the persons responsible 'should be brought to account.' The National Jewish Post, in an October 30th editorial wrote that 'Qibya was in effect another Lidice and no United States person who was living at the time of this detestable Nazi wiping out of an entire village will forget the world's horror at that act.'(3)
The world has known for decades who was responsible for the killing in Qibya, yet not only has no legal action been taken against him for this, but he is rarely even criticized for it. The person I'm referring to is the current Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon. In 1953, the 25 year old Sharon was the head of an Israeli special forces group called"
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Israel's destruction of the Palestinian Authority has unambiguously entered its final phase
The Quartet is playing Sharon's tune: "The Quartet is playing Sharon's tune | By Geoffrey Aronson, Director of Research and Publication for the Foundation for Middle East Peace | (From The Financial Times, September 19, 2003)
... Israel's destruction of the PA has unambiguously entered its final phase with the decision to exile Yassir Arafat, its president.
...
A campaign to delegitimize Mr. Arafat, and as a consequence the Palestinians' national liberation movement, as the interlocutor for Palestinian national aspirations, has proceeded in tandem with the destruction of the PA's institutions. For Mr. Sharon, the removal of Mr. Arafat from the diplomatic equation would signal a historic achievement, ending the mistaken rapprochement that began a decade ago. Mr. Sharon understands with a clarity that is only now dawning in international capitals that the institutions created as a consequence of Mr. Arafat's decision to take the Oslo road cannot survive his forced departure. By making Mr. Arafat "irrelevant," Mr. Sharon could make the PA irrelevant.
Mr. Sharon has been gratified beyond his wildest expectation by the US and international complicity in his campaign against the elected Palestinian president. While foreign capitals shared Mr. Sharon's tactical objective - removing Mr. Arafat's influence from Palestinian councils - they failed to comprehend just how much Mr. Arafat's removal served Mr. Sharon's strategic goal - the destruction of the capacity for Palestinian self-rule.
...
It may well be too late to arrest this process. It is imperative that the international community build a bridge over the chasm that is opening up. Patching up a new Palestinian government under the nominal leadership of Ahmed Qurei promises little more than deadly stalemate. As a first step, world capitals must definitively end the effort to ostracize and vilify Mr. Arafat. He remains the sole authentic interlocutor for the Palestinian people and the best hope that Israel has today for a negotiated peace.
The Quartet is playing Sharon's tune: "The Quartet is playing Sharon's tune | By Geoffrey Aronson, Director of Research and Publication for the Foundation for Middle East Peace | (From The Financial Times, September 19, 2003)
... Israel's destruction of the PA has unambiguously entered its final phase with the decision to exile Yassir Arafat, its president.
...
A campaign to delegitimize Mr. Arafat, and as a consequence the Palestinians' national liberation movement, as the interlocutor for Palestinian national aspirations, has proceeded in tandem with the destruction of the PA's institutions. For Mr. Sharon, the removal of Mr. Arafat from the diplomatic equation would signal a historic achievement, ending the mistaken rapprochement that began a decade ago. Mr. Sharon understands with a clarity that is only now dawning in international capitals that the institutions created as a consequence of Mr. Arafat's decision to take the Oslo road cannot survive his forced departure. By making Mr. Arafat "irrelevant," Mr. Sharon could make the PA irrelevant.
Mr. Sharon has been gratified beyond his wildest expectation by the US and international complicity in his campaign against the elected Palestinian president. While foreign capitals shared Mr. Sharon's tactical objective - removing Mr. Arafat's influence from Palestinian councils - they failed to comprehend just how much Mr. Arafat's removal served Mr. Sharon's strategic goal - the destruction of the capacity for Palestinian self-rule.
...
It may well be too late to arrest this process. It is imperative that the international community build a bridge over the chasm that is opening up. Patching up a new Palestinian government under the nominal leadership of Ahmed Qurei promises little more than deadly stalemate. As a first step, world capitals must definitively end the effort to ostracize and vilify Mr. Arafat. He remains the sole authentic interlocutor for the Palestinian people and the best hope that Israel has today for a negotiated peace.
Saturday, October 11, 2003
The carpet-bombing campaign of the great democracies: Israel's conduct ... appears to be saintly
The carpet-bombing campaign of the great democracies: "The carpet-bombing campaign of the great democracies | By Ze'ev Schiff | Wednesday, October 08, 2003
In March of 1940, after the Germans bombed an English target from the air for the first time and killed some troops and civilians ...
...
... Churchill rejected a proposal to bomb a variety of targets in Germany. He said it was a military war, not a war against civilians.
But things developed differently. By the time the world war drew to a close, it turned out the major democracies, Britain and the United States, deliberately destroyed a fifth of the homes in Germany. Some 7.5 million Germans lost their homes. But their fate was better than some one million German civilians who were killed or gravely wounded in the "carpet bombing" of their country.
...
... The deterioration took place in stages. At first it was British retaliation, even revenge, for what the German air force bombed. British public opinion demanded revenge. Later, attacking the German civilian population became part of an overall strategy.
...
... The next stage in British strategy was to try to undermine German morale by bombing civilian populations.
Churchill saw that as inevitable in a just war. ...
...
When comparing the indiscriminate bombing of the civilian populations by the greatest of the democracies, Israel's conduct of its war against the Palestinian terror organizations that conduct suicide bombings against civilians appears to be saintly.
[Ze'ev -- your article almost does a better job of explaining why there are suicide bombers than explaining Israel's 'saintly' conduct of the war.
The carpet-bombing campaign of the great democracies: "The carpet-bombing campaign of the great democracies | By Ze'ev Schiff | Wednesday, October 08, 2003
In March of 1940, after the Germans bombed an English target from the air for the first time and killed some troops and civilians ...
...
... Churchill rejected a proposal to bomb a variety of targets in Germany. He said it was a military war, not a war against civilians.
But things developed differently. By the time the world war drew to a close, it turned out the major democracies, Britain and the United States, deliberately destroyed a fifth of the homes in Germany. Some 7.5 million Germans lost their homes. But their fate was better than some one million German civilians who were killed or gravely wounded in the "carpet bombing" of their country.
...
... The deterioration took place in stages. At first it was British retaliation, even revenge, for what the German air force bombed. British public opinion demanded revenge. Later, attacking the German civilian population became part of an overall strategy.
...
... The next stage in British strategy was to try to undermine German morale by bombing civilian populations.
Churchill saw that as inevitable in a just war. ...
...
When comparing the indiscriminate bombing of the civilian populations by the greatest of the democracies, Israel's conduct of its war against the Palestinian terror organizations that conduct suicide bombings against civilians appears to be saintly.
[Ze'ev -- your article almost does a better job of explaining why there are suicide bombers than explaining Israel's 'saintly' conduct of the war.
