Every move being taken by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is a clear indication that Israel’s stand toward peace has not changed a bit. Israel still rejects and fear peace for the simple reason that peace would put an end to all of its plans for the creation of Greater Israel, from the Nile to the Euphrates. Sharon’s political strategy is to swallow what is left of Palestinian rights and put more pressure on the Palestinian people under the pretext of ensuring Israel’s security.
As part of an American attempt to revive the peace process. Sharon headed for the United States and landed as a guest of President George Bush at the latter’s Crawford farm, Texas.
Despite the warm reception and hospitality, an arrogant Sharon defied his host who rejected the expansion of Jewish settlements built on Palestinian lands in the West Bank. Bush even warned Sharon against the dangers of the illegal expansion process being conducted by his government.
During the meeting Bush stressed that the US expects Israel to abide by its commitments to the road map, halting settlement expansion in particular. “Israel made a commitment under the road map not to expand settlements Therefore, Israel should remove unauthorized outposts and meet its road map obligations regarding settlements in the West Bank,” he told Sharon.
The Israeli leader responded by promising to remove the “unauthorized outposts” but remained adamant that the major settlement blocs in the West Bank would remain in Israeli hands under any future agreement. The road map — devised by the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union — calls for a freeze on Israeli settlements, for Palestinians to disarm militants, and for both sides to negotiate over disputed territories. It should, however, be remembered that Bush has already given America’s implicit support for such a move when he had talks with the Israeli leader last time and again during his recent meeting with Sharon he said that “realities on the ground” would have to be taken into consideration in any final agreement.
It is obvious Sharon as well as all other Israeli political leaders reject the road map. Sharon is bent on unilaterally drawing the permanent borders of the State of Israel, to secure its future as a Jewish state. The unilateral withdrawal from Gaza is intended to dupe the world into believing that Israel is indeed ready to vacate occupied Arab lands. Israel may withdraw from Gaza, but would occupy more lands in the West Bank.
All this talk about differences among the Israelis over the withdrawal is intended to mislead the world into believing that Israel under Sharon is giving up Palestinian land for the sake of peace. What Israel is in fact doing is pressing the Palestinians more to accept reality on the ground as drawn by Israel. Sharon latest trick was his decision to delay the withdrawal from Gaza, originally planned for July 20, for a further three weeks to make it start on Aug.15.
Such maneuvers by Sharon and other Israeli leaders are not new but rather an extension of a policy pursued by all Israeli leaders. The only difference lies in the tactics and timing where each leader seeks to outdo their predecessors. The goal has long been clear: Expelling the Palestinians and creating a state where only Jews live.
Starting from March 2001 Sharon began implementing the role required of him. His first concern was improving his image in Washington. He wanted to appear like a peace loving man. He moved slowly but meticulously and managed to frustrate and finally thwart all Bill Clinton’s plans for a peaceful settlement the former US president struck with the then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. He even succeeded in having Bush describe him as a man of peace.
His 2003 election win further consolidated his position driving him to withdraw all the promises he made to the Palestinians during the election campaign. The Hertzilia conference of December 2003 hammered the final nail on the road map’s coffin and it went the way of all other so-called peace initiatives such as the Mitchell and Tenet plans and the Zenni recommendations. The 2005 timetable announced by Bush for the establishment of the Palestinian states has evaporated leaving the Palestinians to wonder what would happen to their hope of an independent state.
The silly policy that Sharon enforces would never achieve peace as some might imagine, but would rather lead to more complications, which in turn could result in more violence thus plunging the region into military confrontations fueled by Israel’s continuous incitement against Syria and Iran.
