Ariel Sharon is widely considered to be the man behind the settlement plan in Israel. Although the settlements were a product of the Six-Day war, Sharon was a big supporter and often gave his voice for the settlers.
In 1967, after being threatened with annihilation, Israel staged a preemptive attack on Egypt and Syria. After being warned not to join in the fighting, Jordan declared war as well. While the Arab press, certainly far from a “free” press, lambasted (and still lambaste) Israel, we learned later that Egypt and Syria were just hours away from staging their own sneak attack.
As a result of this war, Israel conquered the Sinai Peninsula (including the Gaza Strip), the Golan Heights and the west bank of the Jordan River (including Jerusalem). It should be noted that when Arabs call Jerusalem their third holiest site, they are simply saying this as a way to de-legitimize the Jewish presence there. In the entire Koran, Jerusalem is never mentioned. It is, however, mentioned throughout the Torah (the Old Testament).
Upon the cessation of hostilities, Israel offered back all it had conquered, excluding Jerusalem (which was originally part of the original Partition plan). In return, it wanted peace. Soon after they were rejected by the Arab nations, including the http://www.factsofisrael.com/en/history.htm, later that year, nationalist and religious groups began settling there.
Over the years, as peace negotiations have failed, the settlements became a solution and a curse. On one hand, they served as a buffer against Israel’s enemies and allowed Jews to live where their ancestors had lived. On the other hand, they became a political issue. Leading the fight for its legitimacy was Ariel Sharon.
Sharon was a soldier who fought in the war for Israel’s independence and subsequent wars. He served in the highest levels of the Knesset, under such leaders as Yitzhak Rabin and Menachem Begin. In 1981, he was appointed Defense Minister and led the operation to remove the PLO from Lebanon. Furthermore, he became Minister for Construction and Housing and led the program to absorb immigrants from the former Soviet Union throughout the country, including the construction of 144,000 apartments.
That was then.
As Prime Minister, Sharon was viewed as a right-wing hawk. His government was a product of the Arab uprisings. After trying to give away Israel’s security to Yasir Arafat, then Prime Minister Ehud Barak was defeated and Sharon was brought in to show force where appeasement failed.
At first, the marriage between Israel and its leader was strong. In response to terror attack after terror attack, Sharon fought back. He “exiled” Arafat back to his compound in Ramallah, rendering him insignificant. However, as much as most Israeli’s wanted revenge on Arafat and his thugs, they also wanted peace and security. While his policy of targeting terrorists should be applauded, his actions are far too few and too late. Arafat is still given a voice around the world and although the world is certainly a better place now that Sheik Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi are gone, their elimination should have taken place much earlier, instead of when Sharon is trying to make Gaza Judenrein.
Sharon’s best accomplishment may have been in making President Bush recognize the true dynamics of the Middle East. Either because of his own beliefs or due to the disaster of 9/11, the American President understands that it’s not p-e-a-c-e the Arabs want, rather it is p-i-e-c-e’s of Israel. The Camp David Accords in 2000 should have made that point perfectly clear.
Unfortunately, Sharon has been unable to get this point across to anyone else. Instead, he seems to have determined that his government is the cause of his troubles. In voting with their doctrine to not give in to the terrorists, the Likud party decided not to endorse Sharon’s plan for removal of the Jewish communities. This plan calls for Israel to remove all the Jews in Gaza and relocate them inside the Green Line. Aside from the fact that it was his policies that set up these communities in the first place, it also does what Sharon and Likud promised not to do, reward terrorism. If Israel disengages from Gaza, the danger to Israel becomes greater.
Then came the news today. According to Arutz Sheva, Sharon was quoted, saying that there will be no Jews in Gaza or northern Shomron (northern West Bank) by the end of 2005.
This is very troubling. What appears to be happening is Sharon, in trying to garner support for his plan, has gone too far. He seems to have found that it is much better to be respected around the world, then to be admonished. Even if the admonishment is against the security of the State of Israel. What Sharon is telling his people is that he has “seen the light” and decided that Gaza and the West Bank should be free of any Jewish presence. His rationale is that the world will look more kindly on them if they just give in to Arab demands. After this startling announcement, Likud MK (member of Knesset) Yechiel Chazan stated, "Sharon will be forced to disengage from his office. We will replace him with another leader from the Likud". (Read article - HERE)
As he once believed, this is delusional. Abandoning Gaza and the West Bank is the worse form of appeasement. It must not be allowed to happen. Perhaps Sharon truly believes he has the ability to make peace with Arabs by giving in to terrorism. Perhaps Ehud Barak was right in offering the most holy city in Judaism to Yasir Arafat.
If you believe that, then you also believe that the U.S. should pay damages to Osama bin Ladin for the pain and suffering of the 19 hijackers.
Ariel Sharon has lost his way. It’s time for him to say goodbye.
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