And only Ariel Sharon can evacuate Jewish Setttements in Gaza.
Apparently Prime Minster Sharon is serious about removing the settlements, even if his timeline isn't very specific at the moment.
Before the critics start flailing away, I would like to point out that even this much shows terrific courage on Sharon's part.: 'A Gaza settler spokesman called Sharon's comments "miserable" and vowed that the nationalist camp would work "to cut short Sharon's term as prime minister through legal means."' (from the Reuters article)
Everyone knows that the Israel/Palestine problem is nearly impossible to solve; the problem is that both sides have something they don't want to give up. The coservative Israelis want to keep the settlements; the Pals want to keep killing Jews.
The good thing for Israel is that giving up the settlements -as long as they keep building the Security Wall- is to their long-term benefit. Even if the Pals don't give up their murderous agenda, all Israel has to do is shoot every SOB that tries to cross the wall. The sections they have up have already dramatically reduced the number of terrorist attacks, as well as casualties.
Once the wall is done, they can hand Gaza and the West Bank over to the Palestine Authority, and let the newly-minted citizens of that country support themselves.
They want freedom? Then give it to them, good and hard.
Posted by Casey at February 2, 2004 11:57 AM | TrackBackEveryone knows that the Israel/Palestine problem is nearly impossible to solve; the problem is that both sides have something they don't want to give up. The coservative Israelis want to keep the settlements; the Pals want to keep killing Jews.
Right. 1 bulldozer is morally equivalent to 1 suicide bomber.
The good thing for Israel is that giving up the settlements -as long as they keep building the Security Wall- is to their long-term benefit.
I say annex the territories once and for all. Make all remaining Pals into Jordanese expats. Hold Jordan responsible for what happens next. I see that as the middle ground. It isn't expulsion and it isn't capitulation to terror.
Posted by: Ara Rubyan at February 4, 2004 8:56 AMAra, I wasn't trying to imply moral equivalence, but state what each side wanted. The people of Israel have sane goals, while the Pals don't.
I'm beginning to think your suggestion may be the only long-range workable solution, since the majority of Pals still find the idea of "driving the Jews into the sea" an attractive prospect.