Sharon counting on American compensation (Likud disengagement)

[tinnypriv]

Mods: The headline is from the print edition of Ma'ariv. Online has the same as sub-heading. The part emphasised in bold is a section heading in the Hebrew version of this article. Posted in LBN due to American involvement.


Likud referendum on disengagement to be held within 3 weeks
Sharon counting on American compensation to sway voters; critics charge PM moving too fast.¹

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has asked Likud central election committee chairman, former Judge Zvi Cohen, to hold the Likud referendum on the disengagement plan within the next three weeks, despite earlier expectations that the poll would only be held in May. Disengagement supporters, and particularly its critics, have prepared for a public relations campaign lasting a month at least, but Sharon apparently had other plans .

Political observers estimate that Sharon's decision stems from his desire to tie the referendum to his upcoming visit to Washington. "Sharon will return from Washington with a 'compensation package' and bring his plan to a vote before critics can mold public opinion," said a senior Likud source. Members of Knesset who spoke with Sharon yesterday were impressed that "the Prime Minister is not certain" he will win the vote.

...

The Americans, however, have yet to deliver the goods and are still making demands of Israel -- first and foremost the removal of settlements and a freeze on settlement expansion. The US has made other demands as well, including guarantees that Gaza evacuees will not be resettled in Judea and Samaria, easing the lives of the Palestinians, and freedom of movement for senior Palestinian figures.

The Americans are also upset that Sharon intends to arrive in Washington without having removed a significant number of illegal outposts, as he pledged to do many months ago. The current Israeli excuse is that the holidays are preventing the removal, but Israel is expected to undertake several "photogenic evacuations" on the eve of Sharon's departure to the US.

...

According to Minister Uzi Landau, the implication of holding the referendum so soon is that most voters will not know what they are voting on. "Sharon's plan is to return from the US with a nicely wrapped package and not allow critics adequate time to present the damage the plan will cause," said Landau.

...

http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=5798
http://www.maariv.co.il/channels/1/ART/686/020.html (heb)

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1. For the "compensation package", see the front page story in Ma'ariv, 4 Feb 2004 (Hebrew only). An exerpt:

"'When it becomes clear what we’re getting in return and what Israel might achieve through the withdrawal from Gaza, many people will change their mind', said senior sources close to Sharon. The compensation package ... is to include the annexation of Ma’ale Adumim and the Gush Etzion bloc, US agreement to further constructions in central settlements, on which there is a consensus in Israel, US approval of the present path of the fence, a US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and a US consent that no Israeli settlement will be removed from the West Bank till a final agreement will be reached.

Morever, the package is to include an Israeli declaration (US backed) of the framework of any military response to terror acts against Israel, or rocket fire from out of Gaza after withdrawal. Jerusalem hopes to get an agreement in front of the American's (that) Israel be permitted to respond by severe bombing, liable to also kill many civilians, if shooting continues inside of the Gaza Strip after the Israeli withdrawal - a similar balance of terror exists on the Lebanese border.

Full text: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=124&topic_id=51533