Sharon's Withdrawal Plan

What Do You Think Of It?

Published on April 13, 2004 By Larry Kuperman In International

I admit that I do not not know what to think of Sharon's withdrawal plan. Is it a political maneuver, offered knowing that the Palestinians will reject it? Surprisingly (to me) Arafat has offered conditional support. Is it the first step on the road to peace?

I have linked to CNN's coverage of the plan, so you can read it for yourself. What do you think of it?

Comments (Page 1)

O G San

on Apr 13, 2004

The Bulldozer speaks:

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1081767667005&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968705899037

pusku

on Apr 14, 2004

baa baa black sheep

Island Dog

on Apr 14, 2004

Palestinians have been offered their own state before, and the number two terrorist in the world, Arafat, rejected it. Palestinians don't want peace, they want Israel to be destroyed.

Sherye Hanson

on Apr 14, 2004

The only way this will stop terrorism is if the Palestinians have an area which is all together. If there is any crossing of borders of if the Palestinians are enclosed in reservations without outlets, then it will just increase the terrorism.

Alex Becherer

on Apr 14, 2004

as far as CNN reports this would be a unilateral withdrawal, so there is nothing the Palestinians would have to reject. it might of course still be a political manouver, if you read the article you´ll see that it is not even sure his own party will support the plan.

Alex Becherer

on Apr 14, 2004

good Q&A at BBC on the topic: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3462461.stm

Anthony R

on Apr 14, 2004

This just makes me sick. They should call the “roadmap to peace,” the roadmap to Auschwitz. How can Sharon "unilaterally” give ground to terror? If Sharon yields ground, he will be rewarding a relentless campaign of Arab bombing terror. Sharon’s referendum of national suicide is insane. Sharon needs a psychiatrist for proposing this act of national self destruction.

An exchange of property deeds will not solve the conflict. If Sharon thinks rewarding terrorism will give Israel peace, he should try to remember what happened when Israel withdrew from Beirut. The Palestinian Authority gave a homicidal sermon. The Palestinian authority commanded Arabs to "kill the Jews."

Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabiya, Member of the PA appointed "Futwa Council" and former acting Rector of the Islamic University in Gaza:

"Have no mercy on the Jews, no matter where they are, in any country. Fight them, wherever you are. Wherever you meet them, kill them. Wherever you are, kill those Jews and those Americans who are like them -- and those who stand by them - they are all in one trench, against the Arabs and the Muslims -- because they established Israel here, in the beating heart of the Arab world, in Palestine. They created it to be the outpost of their civilization -- and the vanguard of their army, and to be the sword of the West and the crusaders, hanging over the necks of the monotheists, the Muslims in these lands. They wanted the Jews to be their spearhead."Let us put our trust in Allah, close ranks, and unite our words, and the slogan of us all should be, 'Jihad! Jihad! For the sake of Palestine, and for the sake of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa!'"We will not give up a single grain of soil of Palestine, from Haifa, and Jaffa, and Acre, and Mulabbas [Petah Tikva] and Salamah, and Majdal [Ashkelon], and all the land, and Gaza, and the West Bank?"Allah, deal with the Jews, your enemies and the enemies of Islam. Deal with the crusaders, and America, and Europe behind them, O Lord of the worlds."

Alex Becherer

on Apr 14, 2004

how about going outside and talking to a female? it might help you.

Anthony R

on Apr 14, 2004

Al Belcherer: that says a lot more about you than me

Anthony R

on Apr 14, 2004

Israels Bolshevik Supreme Court

shadesofgrey

on Apr 14, 2004

"Only Israeli political initiative will retain our strong grasp of the large settlement blocs and security areas," Sharon said in a speech at Maaleh Adumim, near Jerusalem.
"These are places that will remain under Israeli control and that will continue to grow stronger and develop."

These are quotes from the CNN article that you linked to above. While the concept sounds great, the idea that Israel is going to keep large settlement blocs which they are openingly admiting will grow is a little unnerving. It sounds to me like we will be right back where we started in a decades time. But that's just my opinoin.

Alex Becherer

on Apr 15, 2004

damn, the bolsheviks are everywhere. but then the political right has always known the bolsheviks were all Jews.

kingbee

on Apr 15, 2004

sharon reminds me of nixon in more than one regard. if nixon hadnt built his career (with considerable support from the dragonlady herself) slamming the door on china, he wouldnt have been able to later take credit for opening it again. if sharon hadnt insisted on recklessly creating a photo-op in jerusalem during 2000, none of the resulting carnage would have occurred. if he hadnt derailed the process, there might likely be no need of a roadmap. their ruthless pursuit of power (sharon may not be directly or legally responsible for the dead and injured in his wake but he had to know what a firestorm he was igniting) is only one shared attribute. when sharon is booted out of office, therell be one more.

JURookie

on Apr 15, 2004

Israel belongs to the Jews....always has...always will. The UN keeps Palestinians from dispersing through the nations to become better people. I consider the UN a supporter of Terrorism.

Ciao!

messybuu

on Apr 15, 2004

I'm kind of with Anthony on this, unless the Arab world has changed its position from "death of all Israel" which helped lead to the war that lead to the Israeli settlements in the first place. Have they accepted Israel yet?

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