The pivot of the Israeli prime minister’s plan to unilaterally quit the open prison called Gaza instead of following through on the Quartet’s “road map” is that he doesn’t have a partner for peace. Now that President Yasser Arafat’s health is in question, and the possibility exists for a new, moderate Palestinian leader to be appointed, is Ariel Sharon celebrating? Not likely!

It has taking years to discredit Nobel Peace Prize recipient Arafat in the eyes of the powers that matter. He was vilified as a stubborn terrorist-supporting one-man barrier to peace best consigned to his Moqata compound, where surrounded by IDF tanks, he can be personally blamed for every bomb that goes off in Israel. It has taken real commitment and ingenuity to paint Arafat as corrupt even as he prefers to remain in his stark compound making do without the smallest luxuries in life we take for granted rather than opt for a comfortable exile.

Sharon has shown great patience while waiting for the right moment to grab as much of the West Bank as he can. From his point of view the time is long ripe with a pro-Israel cabal in the Pentagon and a Messianic born-again pro-Israel evangelical in the White House. He may have to sacrifice the ideological ambitions of some 8,000 Jewish settlers in Gaza on the alter of a Greater Israel but that’s a small price to pay.

Bush insulted Arafat, who was formerly the most frequent foreign visitor to Pennsylvania Avenue, from day one when he refused to shake his hand at the UN. This American president has done nothing to further the Middle East peace process other than mouth a few platitudes in support of the “road map” while giving Sharon a virtual free rein.

Although, it must be said Bush was “deeply troubled” over Israel’s extra-judicial assassinations even while his own troops were in Iraq “pacifying” cities there, which according to an article in the respected Lancet, killed up to 100,000 civilians.

Furthermore, Bush’s so-called “War on Terror” proved a godsend to Israel’s hawkish leadership. They wasted no time in jumping on that bandwagon and labeling Palestinians fighting for their dignity and land as “terrorists”.

The world has changed since Sept. 11, parrots Sharon disingenuously — conveniently forgetting his own bloody role in blowing up 41 houses in the Arab village of Qibya killing over 60 trapped residents.

His amnesia extends to his own involvement in the slaughter of Palestinian refugees at Sabra and Shatilla along with the terrorist actions of a slew of Israel’s former leaders, including Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir.

As Irgun members, both former prime ministers were responsible for the bombing of the King David Hotel and the massacre of Palestinians at Deir Yassin.

Given the undeniable historical facts, Sharon’s chutzpah, when he claims to be committed to fighting terrorism, surely knows no bounds.

Returning to President Arafat, scenes of the ailing leader sporting a blue jumpsuit and looking like everyone’s favorite uncle while holding his doctors’ hands, didn’t fit the evildoer profile, so carefully nurtured by Sharon.

The demise of a self-sacrificial and courageous elderly hero while being held prisoner by Israel was the last thing Sharon wanted and so he was quick to offer a way out and the green light for Arafat’s return.

Indeed, Sharon is no doubt hoping that Arafat will continue as the Palestinian leader long enough for him to implement his unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.

He doesn’t want someone like former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), the co-founder of Fatah, attempting to fill Arafat’s shoes.

The US and many other world leaders have formerly described Abbas as a man with whom they can do business. Now if he popped up curtailing the intifada and demanding a return to the negotiating table, Sharon could no longer assert he didn’t have a reliable peace partner.

By far the best scenario from Sharon’s point of view is to see a relatively healthy Arafat return to his Ramallah headquarters along with another four years of the disengaged Bush cabal.

On the other hand, an Abu Mazen-Kerry combination could quickly pull the rug from under Sharon’s feet.

Arafat’s future plans and the outcome of the US election are crucial to the future of Palestine. There is no doubt that Arafat is a great man. He has dedicated almost his entire life to the Palestinian cause in a sincere fashion and few would say he doesn’t have the best interests of his people at heart. But the bottom line is his policies, however well-meaning, have failed to deliver. Arafat has gained his people’s love, but in any ever more ruthless world, perhaps it is time the torch be passed. Now that would not only be the mark of a wise statesman, it might stop the Israeli leader in his tracks, and give him night sweats.

— Linda S. Heard is a specialist writer on Mideast affairs. She welcomes feedback.