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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scoobah who wrote (243)	11/13/2001 12:38:03 AM
From: Scoobah	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32591

A New Guide for the Perplexed?, by Ruth and Nadia Matar The complex Middle East picture which Prime Minister Sharon is required to solve, cannot but baffle him. On the one hand, there is wily Arafat who skillfully blurs his terrorist and barbaric activities under the guise of a National Liberation Movement. Then there is the United States which acts to protect its need for Arab oil. Accordingly, it engages in a macabre dance whereby it seeks to assuage the Arabs by unreasonably bashing Israel. Moreover, to keep the region quiet, U.S. policy demands Israel show restraint in the face of Israel's citizenry being slaughtered on a daily basis. Added to this stew, are the hostile positions of the nations of Europe. They too need Arab oil; they too want the massive oil monies deposited in their banks; and they too seek favorable trade from the many Arab countries in the region. Then there is the United Nations overhanging threat to intervene. Its policies are dominated by countries currying favor with the Arabs and their oil wealth. The situation becomes more complex because Sharon has chosen the path of a unity government. The leftist-oriented Labor Party holds pivotal posts in such a government, led by the Socialist-International adherent Shimon Peres, as Israel's Foreign Minister. A ludicrous phenomenon is occurring. The Israeli electorate overwhelmingly voted in the last elections for a nationalistic-oriented government. Yet today Shimon Peres virtually rules this nation, despite the fact that his views are those of a slim minority, not shared by the major bulk of the electorate. Add to this complex picture, the fact that Sharon is no longer a young man. He was previously maliciously smeared by Labor, who invented a bizarre accusation against him in the Sabra and Shatila matter. More recently, Labor's major platform in the last election was the prediction that Sharon will lead us to war. Faced with the many years of attempting to exonerate his name and reputation, Sharon no longer seems to possess his former daring and courage. The psychological factors involved may have taken their toll, and affected his confidence and ability to act decisively. Israel desperately needs a leader who believes passionately in the value of its noble Ancient Heritage, and its historical rights to its Homeland. Above all, it requires a leader to inspire and unite the Jewish People in the present war being waged against them by the Arabs. Sharon, up to now, has not shown such leadership. Given the above considerations, it is a gigantic task for anyone to lead. Yet, despite such problems, Israel desperately needs an inspired leader. Recent polls indicate that the Jewish People in Israel are losing faith in Sharon. Under the present trying circumstances of the Arab intifada, they need to be fortified in their faith, belief in themselves, and in their rights to this Promised Land. Sharon, or some other leader, must have the courage and wisdom to provide new guidelines and objectives. Oslo is dead. It is now quite clear that a Palestinian state is a dire threat to Israel's survival. Israel must meet the challenge of Arab enmity that refuses to abate, or ever to go away.Back