Sharon's 'Unilateral Withdrawal' Strategy

[Darranar]

He is at it again, and again it is working. He is launching colorful balloons, and the whole world is looking on with rapture and wonderment.

Ariel Sharon needs to divert attention. His popularity has dropped in recent opinion polls. The Geneva initiative has captured the national and international agenda. The police investigations into his corruption affairs have reappeared in the headlines. Army and Security Services officers have criticized him publicly. He has been accused of immobility, foot-dragging, the lack of a plan.

So he is launching balloons: "Unilateral steps". Sensation! "In the future we shall not be in all the places we are now". Shock! "We shall be moving settlements". Uproar!

He has sent Ehud Olmert to exercise his jaw on every talk-show, warning against the terrible danger of a "bi-national state". His plan, Olmert declares, will ensure the existence of a "Jewish state", 80% of whose population will be Jewish. Since already more than 78% of Israel's citizens are Jewish, this must mean that densely populated Palestinian territories would not be annexed. Sharon's office has leaked reports that Olmert is echoing Sharon's own view, and that Sharon himself will make a sensational statement to this effect next week in Herzlia.

Tikkun

[Resistance]

1. The thing is

They probably will continue to murder Palestinian civilians for years to come. (All the while demanding that Palestinians abandon violence)

[La_Serpiente]

2. Does anyone have any maps

as to where the water sources are in the area?

[newyorican]

5. here you go...

[tinnypriv]

6. left map must be an Israeli source

Because Modi'in is not in Israel, it is in the West Bank.

[Gimel]

9. ????

Modi'in is west of the Green Line. You are mistaken.

[tinnypriv]

11. I'm afraid I'm not

There are Palestinian villages to the West (geographically) of Modi'in. Morever, Mattiyahu is to the west of Modi'in illit (part of Modi'in essentially) as well, and that is also beyond the Green Line, hence in the WB.

For all intents and purposes it is in Israel however, and accepted as a given that it will remain so.

Technically you could make a case that parts of the municipal boundaries are within Israel and the WB.

[Gimel]

12. Modi'in

The community has grown, but the original Moshav is on the Israeli side. That is fact.

[tinnypriv]

13. I think we might be talking about two different things

You're right if you consider the Moshav to be separate from the surrounding areas such as Mod'iin illit. I don't.

[newyorican]

14. From this site

http://www.mideastweb.org

and this map should resolve the dispute one way or the other:

http://www.mideastweb.org/misraeldetail.htm

[La_Serpiente]

7. thank you

:-)

[Jim Sagle]

3. Ariel keeps on keepin' on...balancing security needs against

a desire for peace.

[Darranar]

4. Sharon has a desire for peace?

Please show me some evidence to support that.

[Violet_Crumble]

15. I'd like to see it too....

Not words of Sharon's, but actions. The author of the article gave a very wise warning to those who'd tout Sharon as a great leader and a man pursuing peace:

"I have already warned a dozen times: Don't pay attention to what Sharon says, pay attention to what Sharon does. His pronouncements can be ignored, they serve only to fulfil the tactical requirements of the moment. But his actions are very, very important."

So I'm sure Jim will have no trouble coming up with the actions from Sharon that have gained Sharon Jim's support in pursuing peace...

Violet...

[Resistance]

16. y'know.....

wasn't it previously considered a personal attack to call someone a 'Sharon-supporter'

This new, open advocation for Ariel Sharon around here totally changes that. I was tired of the charades anyway.

[Violet_Crumble]

17. I believe it was...

I remember having a post or two deleted in the past for even implying that a poster was a supporter of Sharon...

Violet...

[bemildred]

8. Tikkun has it right, I think.

It's all bullshit. Reminds me of Nixon and
Kissinger and the plan to end the VietNam war.
He's basically saying that he's going to keep doing
what he's been doing, but later he might keep on
doing it some more, or maybe less, depending.

Right now, what you have is a new PR campaign
designed to distract from all the unpleasant stuff
happening, from his point of view.

I dunno that the whole world is drooling over it
yet, though.

[Gimel]

10. Something else

News line on Haaretz gives a different assessment:

03:57 Architects of Geneva Accord term PM`s address `one small step for Sharon, and one giant step toward Geneva`

Interesting the opposite interpretations of what lies in the future.