To: E. T. who wrote (187836 ) 5/4/2004 7:18:54 PM From: tejek Read Replies (1) | Respond to The biggest dangers to the well being of Israel are the Likud and the settlers in that order. From Haaretz.......read carefully: The results of the Likud's referendum on the disengagement plan sent shock waves throughout broad segments of the public. Once again it became evident that the settlers set the agenda for the State of Israel. While they are a small minority, they are highly motivated, well organized with a firm ideology and enormous financial resources - some directly from government ministries - and driven with a messianic passion and readiness for sacrifice, including life. There is no parliament or extra-parliamentary movement that forms a counter-balance to the settlers. Peace Now, which used to turn out hundreds of thousands to demonstrations in favor of the peace process, has grown tired and evaporated. And all this happened when a majority of the public actually favors a withdrawal from Gaza and supports reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians, even if it means far-reaching concessions.Ever since Gush Emunim took over Sebastia in December 1975, all Israeli governments have twisted, stammered and lied when it comes to the settlements in the territories. Some did so for ideological reasons, while others gave in to pressure, but the end result has been that every year, the taxpayers send huge amounts of money to expand the settlements that encourage the construction of homes for young married couples, bridges, roads and bypass roads. When the pressure mounts, the government makes promises - sometimes to us and sometimes to the U.S. government - about settlement freezes, but they never take place. Despite all the billions that have been invested in the area, only 7,500 Jews live in 20 isolated venues and have no chance of surviving without an enormous military presence protecting them. It's a brutal occupation that has given a third of the land including water resources, to those 7,500 people, while 1.3 million Arabs live on 65 percent of the land in terribly overcrowded conditions and horrifying poverty. This occupation threatens the existence of the state. Every reasonable person understands that the situation cannot go on forever without some terrible explosion.When Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reached the proper conclusion and presented the public with a disengagement plan, it may not have been perfect but it could have served as the start of a reconciliation process - the beginning of a political horizon - and even advanced the settlement cause in the West Bank. The settlers understood the danger quite clearly and rose up as one to oppose the Sharon plan - and they won. Now they are in the grip of euphoria with a feeling that they have managed to reconquer the hearts of the Jewish nation. A zealous, religious and messianic minority already led the people of Israel to the destruction of the Second Commonwealth 2,000 years ago. Now the struggle is over the Third Commonwealth. haaretz.com
