This is an important story, if only for signifying a major shift in internal Israeli politics...Sharon has long said that a Palestinian state was inevitable, now he has rammed the vote through his Likud cabinet. Probably only Sharon could have done this, as only Nixon could have gone to China.
Sharon recognizes that Bush is going to stomp through the Mideast with some heavy footsteps, and Israel does NOT want to be perceived as standing in his way.
Also, Sharon is really trusting Bush here, as Bill Safire said. Because of course, from Israel's POV and experience, this 'roadmap' has set the stage perfectly for an often played scenario that the Eurocrats would love to play again:
Quartet: Ok, start implementing. Abu Mazen, stop the terror.
Abu Mazen (wringing hands) Oh, I condemn the terror, absolutely. But I'm helpless to stop it, just helpless. (Explosions in background)
Quartet: Good enough, you tried. Now Israel, pull back this minute!
Sharon: Pull back? We're just burying the victims of one suicide bombing and our intelligence services tell us there are five more primed and ready to go the minute we pull back! What happened to stopping terror?
Quartet: Israel is obstructing peace again! It's all Israel's fault!
Sharon is trusting that Bush is not going to play along with this scenario and has something else up his sleeve. What, I don't know.
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Israeli Premier Defends Approval of Plan for Palestinian State
By GREG MYRE
JERUSALEM, May 26 — In the face of withering criticism from his own right-wing party, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon staunchly defended his support for the latest Mideast peace effort today, declaring that "ruling three and a half million Palestinians cannot go on indefinitely."
A lifelong hawk, Mr. Sharon hit back at critics in his own Likud Party with language that sounded as if it were coming from Israel's liberal "peace camp."
"You may not like the word, but what's happening is occupation," Mr. Sharon told Likud members of Parliament. "Holding 3.5 million Palestinians is a bad thing for Israel, for the Palestinians and for the Israeli economy. We have to end this subject without risking our security."
On Sunday, Mr. Sharon's rightist cabinet gave conditional approval to the Mideast peace plan known as the "road map." The vote energized diplomatic efforts but also brought a firestorm of criticism from right-wing Israelis who accused Mr. Sharon of plunging the country into a process that carries potential disaster for Israel.
While Mr. Sharon battled with his traditional allies, the Israelis and Palestinians pressed ahead with preparations for top-level meetings intended to build on the current diplomatic momentum.
Mr. Sharon and the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, are expected to meet this week, probably on Wednesday, diplomats said. And the two leaders are expected to join President Bush for a summit meeting somewhere in the region, probably next week.
Mr. Sharon asserted on Sunday that Israel had no real option but to accept the measures outlined in the peace plan. After a stormy session, the cabinet voted 12 to 7 in favor of it, with 4 abstentions — the first time that any Israeli government approved the principle of a future Palestinian state.
But the cabinet also expressed numerous reservations, which could complicate efforts to put the plan into effect. Palestinians say the road map must be enacted as is, fearing that efforts to rework it will lead to long delays and, ultimately, to failure.
"The road to hell is filled with good intentions," Michael Ratzon, a Likud member of Parliament, told Mr. Sharon. "This document is Israel's surrender to Palestinian terrorism."
David Levy, a Likud lawmaker and a former foreign minister, said the road map included "the worst things ever faced by the government of Israel."
"With all due respect, we are talking about a cardinal matter, the existence and future of Israel," Mr. Levy added.
One Likud legislator after another lashed out at the cabinet's action. The intense debate illustrated how difficult it will be for Israelis and Palestinians to move forward with the road map with hard-liners on both sides seeking to undermine it.
Mr. Sharon emphasized that he was a reluctant supporter of the process. And the Palestinians, as well as his Israeli critics, say they are deeply skeptical of his intentions to engage in serious negotiations.
But Mr. Sharon's impassioned language today indicated that he viewed the grinding Mideast conflict as inflicting great damage on Israel. His remarks also suggested he was prepared to take political risks, and willing to alienate his supporters in hopes of finding a way out, even if he has serious misgivings about the peace plan.
"I don't know whether we'll succeed, but I'm telling you in the clearest way that I'll make every effort to reach a diplomatic arrangement because I believe that it's important for Israel," Mr. Sharon said.
rest at nytimes.com |
