Sharon condemns Netanyahu for urging escalation
By Gil Hoffman
JERUSALEM (June 1) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon issued a strong condemnation against his rival, former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu yesterday, telling a meeting of the Likud secretariat that he is in charge and no one can lecture him about how to handle the security situation.
Sharon was heckled throughout his speech by secretariat member Aaron Greenstein of Bnei Brak, a former ally who now supports Netanyahu.
Greenstein screamed at Sharon that by continuing the cease-fire, Sharon is letting his own people die in order to appease the Americans.
"No one has a monopoly on tragedies," Sharon said. "I have seen tragedy with my own eyes, and I personally had to tell widows of their husband's deaths. Neither you [Greenstein] nor any one else can lecture me on tragedy."
Sharon told Greenstein, "I know you're serving someone with what you say," referring to Netanyahu.
The former prime minister caused a storm by telling a Likud forum Wednesday night that Sharon should significantly increase military action against the Palestinian Authority and bring its collapse.
"I have no claims against people who attack me, but this situation is really complicated," Sharon said. "We need to act carefully. My blood boils too. The responsibility is on my shoulders now and not on anyone else's."
Sharon said he would continue with the cease-fire as the first stage in implementing the Mitchell report and as part of his commitment to his national-unity government.
"Some people thought forming a national-unity government was not a good idea, and that the government would not last long, but despite what certain people said, the government is working well and will continue to work well until November 2003 [the set date for the next general election]," Sharon said in another reference to Netanyahu.
Netanyahu's office responded to Sharon's charges: "Netanyahu did not criticize the Prime Minister. He merely offered his assistance. He did not address the question of the cease-fire because it is clear from the words of the prime minister that it will end shortly. Netanyahu addressed the need after the cease fire ends to deal with the war of attrition at a new stage of decisive action against the Palestinian Authority."
Also in the meeting, Sharon outlined the Mitchell plan and the secretariat unanimously approved Sharon's choice for Likud director-general, Arik Brami of Acre.
Likud Jerusalem branch chief Rafi Bar-Chen, who is haredi, was approved as the party's new deputy director-general.
The secretariat delayed the issue of when the Likud's voter registration drive and when the process of deciding when its primaries will take place until later meeting, on June 10 and July 5.
jpost.com
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Kind of a twist when Sharon has to put the ultra-hawks in their place and play the role of moderate and peace-maker.
But Hamas made a major blunder killing 15 teen-agers and wounding 60 others by targeting the nightclub. Israelis have now been provided all the political "ammunition" they require to take extreme military action.
Killing adults and old men is one thing, but killing teens, quite another.
Hawk |
