Turning Israeli politics on its head, Mr Ariel Sharon drew attacks from the right and praise from the left today after taking to the world stage and voicing recognition of Palestinians’ right to statehood.
But Palestine wants Israel dead! All Palestinians hate Jews!
I mean, right?
Well, not right--obviously. Nor do all Israelis want to see Palestine wiped out or occupied. All Israelis don't hate Palestinians, either. But, until recently, it's been assumed that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sure did. Here's more from that article:
Just a few months ago, it would have been unthinkable for the burly, 77-year-old ex-General to stand before the world forum that many Israelis see as a bastion of anti-Israel sentiment.
But the implementation of his “disengagement†plan has softened his image as Israel’s uncompromising “Bulldozer†and drawn accolades from the international community, which hopes the Gaza withdrawal will serve as a catalyst for renewed peacemaking.
“The man who for the past four decades has intimidated, threatened, torpedoed, prevented, wagged his finger and thundered with a parched throat, restarted the clock yesterday and redefined himself,†wrote Ben Caspit, a political columnist for the daily Maariv.
Crazy.
But for now, true. The article goes on to talk about how some see this as a tactic to distract from the fact that Sharon is tightening his grip on Jerusalem--but even if this is the case, isn't it at least worth noting that he has compromised here?
From the beginning it has always been up to the Israeli PM to bring peace to Israelistine. The Palestinian terrorists stopping their attacks would only be admitting failure. In most cases, it's the side with the upper hand that has the ability to bring peace. After all, to every suicide bomber, Israel can take down several buildings or even an entire neighborhood. Israel doesn't lose the war by pulling out of occupied territories. They are still Israel.
If Palestine ceases fighting, they lose everything.
Now, there is at least the appearance of hope.
Let's hope it lasts.
From Reuters.com and TribuneIndia.com:
Sharon UN speech turns Israeli politics on its head
Jerusalem, September 16
Turning Israeli politics on its head, Mr Ariel Sharon drew attacks from the right and praise from the left today after taking to the world stage and voicing recognition of Palestinians’ right to statehood.
Mr Sharon’s speech to the UN General Assembly yesterday calling for compromise to “end this bloody conflict†was more conciliatory than many had expected from an Israel leader long vilified internationally as an intransigent hardliner.
Mr Sharon held firm on his insistence that it was now up to the Palestinians to prove they want peace by cracking down on militants following Israel’s pullout from Gaza earlier this week after 38 years of occupation.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Sharon’s rival in their Likud party, accused the Prime Minister of turning his back on his rightist roots, and Interior Minister Ophir Pines of centre-left Labour, said he had “unconditionally joined the peace campâ€.
Palestinians saw it as a propaganda ploy to mask Mr Sharon’s intention to keep a permanent hold on Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, continue expanding settlement blocs there and forestall a return to final-status negotiations.
Just a few months ago, it would have been unthinkable for the burly, 77-year-old ex-General to stand before the world forum that many Israelis see as a bastion of anti-Israel sentiment.
But the implementation of his “disengagement†plan has softened his image as Israel’s uncompromising “Bulldozer†and drawn accolades from the international community, which hopes the Gaza withdrawal will serve as a catalyst for renewed peacemaking.
“The man who for the past four decades has intimidated, threatened, torpedoed, prevented, wagged his finger and thundered with a parched throat, restarted the clock yesterday and redefined himself,†wrote Ben Caspit, a political columnist for the daily Maariv.
Still, Mr Sharon said little to suggest he planned any conciliatory moves toward the Palestinians anytime soon. “We do not see anything positive (in Mr Sharon’s speech),†said Palestinian Planning Minister Ghassan al-Khatib.
Mr Sharon’s UN address drew harsh criticism from rightist opponents who brand him a traitor to the settlement movement he once championed. They see the Gaza pullout as a betrayal of Jewish biblical claims and a reward for Palestinian violence.
“In his speech, Mr Sharon has finally clarified that he is turning to the left and will continue to make concessions,†Netanyahu, who is trying to unseat Mr Sharon as Likud chief for the next general election, said in a statement. — Reuters
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